The first Farm to Hospital initiative in Pennsylvania launches in York

Providing a new approach to healthcare

• By Marquis Lupton

Aired; April 23rd, 2024.

The Farm to Hospital program, conceived by Dr. KimberLee Mudge, has emerged as a beacon of holistic healthcare in York County. Addressing the root causes of illnesses through interventions such as diet and exercise, the initiative aims to combat food insecurity by supplying fresh, nutritious produce to UPMC Memorial patients, staff, visitors, and the wider community.

Partnering with York Fresh Food Farms (YFFF), a local non-profit committed to cultivating and distributing affordable produce, the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation has facilitated the employment of a farm manager and farmhands for daily operations. Through careful selection and seasonal rotation of crops, the YFFF team ensures a year-round supply of fresh food to both patients and the community. With ambitious goals in sight, the program seeks to establish and manage a year-round farm spanning 3-5 acres, yielding approximately 10,000 lbs. of fresh produce annually. Distribution efforts will extend to York City’s food deserts, UPMC Food Services, and local food banks. Moreover, the initiative emphasizes the importance of nutritional education, tracking co-op participant data, and the establishment of a permanent produce stand, and critical to the program’s success are major donors, including the Memorial Health Fund of the York County Community Foundation, the Powder Mill Foundation, and York Excavating Co.

In shifting the narrative from illness to wellness, the Farm to Hospital program underscores the significance of fresh food in combating prevalent health issues such as heart and renal diseases. Pairing dietary interventions with fitness, mindfulness, and spiritual healing, the initiative endeavors to foster a healthier community. The collaboration between UPMC Memorial, the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, and York Fresh Food Farms signifies a concerted effort towards community wellness. Commencing with the creation of a walking trail on the hospital campus, repurposed from a former golf course, the initiative gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic as the community embraced outdoor activities.

Further enhancing the wellness campus, the installation of the Breast Cancer Garden of Hope at the trailhead offers emotional solace to visitors. Leveraging high tunnels for crop cultivation, the program ensures sustainable practices through drip irrigation, solar power utilization, and water conservation efforts. Future endeavors include educational programs aimed at empowering the community with knowledge on urban farming and nutrition. Volunteers will play a pivotal role in the program’s success, receiving training and schedules to assist with harvest activities.