It is well known that good health is deeply rooted in eating a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables. However, much like the roots of plants, the roots of good health need essential nutrients to grow, and without access to adequate resources the roots of good health can wither. That’s why Centura Health - Mercy Regional Medical Center is working to improve access to healthy foods to support its local communities.
Nestled in the San Juan Mountains, Mercy serves a rural population that faces a lack of access to healthy foods, and many in La Plata and Archuleta counties face food insecurity. Food insecurity refers to the USDA’s measure of a lack of access to enough food to support an active, healthy life for all household members and limited availability of nutritionally adequate foods. A common cause of food insecurity is a family’s need to make difficult choices between basic needs, such as paying rent or purchasing nutrient rich foods.
In these counties, where the average annual per capita income ranges from $31,000 to $38,000 and 69 (La Plata County) to 92 (Archuleta County) percent qualify for Colorado’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), these difficult choices are made daily. Studies show that in order for a family of four to make ends meet in this southwestern corner of the state, the household income needs to be $77,475 per year. When confronted with this data it is not surprising that many families are forced to make difficult budget choices.
Mercy’s own associates are not immune to the challenges faced by the communities it serves. It can be difficult for any shift worker (even higher wage earners) to plan meals, shop and cook after work. A higher cost of living in Durango, where Mercy is located, may also contribute to many associates’ long commute distances after varying shifts, which further reduces both time and energy to devote to self-care by preparing nutrient dense meals.
Powerful Partnerships
Mercy is partnering with The Good Food Collective, a regional nonprofit organization working across Southwestern Colorado to create an intact regional food system that advances economic vitality, supports farmers and ranchers, stewards the environment, and ensures that everyone has sufficient and nutritious food to eat. Together, Mercy and the Good Food Collective are excited to offer Mercy employees their own Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program called Roots of Health Employee Produce Share. The goals of this program are to encourage healthy eating, support local food producers and the local economy while improving access to health foods.
“The Roots of Health program takes Centura’s Mission to ‘nurture the health of people in our communities’ to heart. Our caregivers give so much to our community already, and we are so proud to kick-off our program among our own Mercy family with Employee Produce Share” said Jess Church, the Mercy dietitian managing the program. “I love that Mercy is able to offer gratitude and wellness to our caregivers, while also addressing some root causes of health inequity by supporting our farmers and the local economy.”
Beginning in Summer 2020, Roots of Health Employee Produce Share will connect Mercy associates with one week worth of sustainably-grown local produce weekly during the growing season.
The program will include the following:
- Approximately 16-weeks of weekly produce boxes during the local growing season (July to October) with weekly pick up onsite at Mercy. Access to onsite pick up will remove the transportation barrier experienced by some associates.
- A sliding-scale payment model based on financial need.
- To honor and protect the dignity of participants, Roots of Health Employee Produce Share will use a private sign-up and payment process and ensure the equivalence of each high-quality produce box at pick-up.
Good for Everyone
Agriculture is one of the kingpins of both La Plata and Archuleta county economies. It is estimated that a farmer’s annual wage is $30,320, which falls well below the $77,475 per year household income threshold needed for a family of four to sustain themselves. This partnership will increase sales for local farmers, thereby creating a triple win for associates, farmers and the community.
"The Roots of Health Program is the definition of a community-centered approach to food security -- it cares for members of our community at every level. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, area farmers predicted that they lost 50 to 70 percent of their sales accounts,” explained Rachel Landis, director of the Good Food Collective. “By being able to purchase CSA shares, Roots of Health is providing our farmers with an invaluable market opportunity during a time of economic hardship.”
“Further, our local farmers and ranchers are always telling me that they grow food in order to care for their community. What better way to show that caring than by providing fresh, healthy and nutritious food to those folks working on the front lines of our local COVID response,” Landis added.
Mercy’s vision is to expand this initiative in the future by adding supplemental programs that directly impact community members and patients such as a regional produce prescription program. Mercy hopes this first year’s focus will improve the health of Mercy’s associates while contributing to the overall economic health of the Four Corners region - helping to further Centura Health’s journey to ensure every community, every neighborhood, every life is whole and healthy.
