Feeding Tampa Bay launches new health-focused strategy

Feeding Tampa Bay leaders are working on a new strategy focused on food’s impact on health. It was presented Wednesday, as part of the Health and Hunger Summit, at the organization’s Tampa-based Causeway Center. 

The event brought in experts from various fields to discuss national and local consequences of food insecurity as a public health crisis – including University of South Florida Center for the Advancement of Food Security & Health Communities director David Himmelgreen. 

“Food insecurity can be related to chronic diseases,” he explained to the Catalyst. “It has become the leading cause of death.” 

Feeding Tampa Bay has prioritized two key opportunities, said the nonprofit’s chief external affairs officer Lorena Hardwick. Both revolve around partnerships.  

The organization began this week to provide medically tailored meals for BayCare Health System patients who have chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity. “Food is medicine both for prevention and treatment,” Himmelgreen explained. 

USF worked with Feeding Tampa Bay and Evara Health on a study to research the topic. It revolved around a prescription produce program. 

The more frequently the patients received the food, he added, the better their health outcomes were. For example, diabetic participants were able to see a “significant” improvement on their hemoglobin A1c tests, which show blood sugar levels. 

Hardwick said that the BayCare pilot program features recipes curated and validated by registered dietitians. Participants will self-monitor their progress by using provided equipment to measure their blood pressure as well as their blood levels. BayCare’s Community Benefit initiative will cover the costs. 

Additionally, Feeding Tampa Bay has opened a health clinic at its facility in partnership with Suncoast Community Health Centers. A physician is available Monday through Friday. 

Since it’s a federally qualified clinic, she added, individuals without health insurance will be able to receive complementary service. 

“Suncoast can now keep that continuity of care and get that neighbor patient into other services such as dental or x-ray imaging,” Hardwick said. “This is so important when individuals who are uninsured or underinsured walk into the door. They are always hopping from one location to another.” 

Feeding Tampa Bay also operates a market and cafe. Its Groceries on the Go program provides discounted produce and whole foods to individuals via a truck. 

“There are so many different drivers that can create a lot of chaos in our neighbors’ lives,” she explained. “Especially right now with a lot of the losses that families are seeing with programs like SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or Medicaid.” 

Over four million people in Florida rely on Medicaid and over three million receive SNAP benefits – also known as food stamps. 

Updating federal, state and local policy is essential moving forward, Hardwick emphasized. This includes housing and property insurance legislation. Additionally, lawmakers need to determine how to keep school lunch and summer meal programs accessible. 

Income has “not kept up with” the cost of living in the Tampa Bay region. “We start seeing people,” she said, “having to make some really tough choices.” 

A lack of nutrition can lead to expensive medical care. In fact, approximately $4.2 billion in annual healthcare costs are associated with food insecurity in the state. 

“You are what you eat,” explained 15th Street Farm founder Emmanuel Roux. “There’s no way around that.” 

The St. Petersburg-based nonprofit focuses on community building. Roux and his team grow their own organic crops and host dinners on the property. Additionally, they have installed gardens at 15 schools. 

The 15th Street Farm team grows their own organic crops. Photo: 15th Street Farm

Making healthy food more accessible, he argued, depends on multiple factors including education. “We need to give lawmakers the tools to become informed.” 

The U.S. food industry is more concerned with profits rather than providing nutrient dense options, Roux added. Additionally, many consumers see food as a commodity and are trying to get the most value for their money. 

He is currently working with the University of South Florida’s Future of Food Think Tank to mobilize the local food system. 

The initiative is community-driven, said USF Research Development Institute associate director Miranda Mattingly. It currently has 190 members and works with 62 partners. 

“We are trying to reach a 10 county scope and touch base with other networks,” she explained. This can lead to cross conversations about challenges and successes in the region. 

Many crops, such as lettuce, are grown across the country. Transportation, distribution and trading costs, Roux added, make the products more expensive. 

Improving the local food system can increase resilience and have a regional economic impact, he said. More so, it can give people access to nutritious food quicker and more affordably.