AdkAction and Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) are joining forces on the 2020 AdkAction Farmacy project. The Farmacy increases access to fresh, local food in communities without traditional grocery stores. By incorporating a farm store into an existing business, the Farmacy project aims to reduce the risk of food insecurity by providing healthy grocery options, as well as tools and education to teach individuals how to properly prepare and consume fresh foods.

With generous grant funding and support from CDPHP, AdkAction will be able to expand this project and continue to educate people around the region about the importance of eating healthy, local food. AdkAction will be able to hold more cooking classes, provide support for people around the community, and continue to develop this project to meet the needs of people in the Adirondacks.  AdkAction hopes that this “Farmacy” model can be used to help rural areas around the country provide fresh, healthy food to all communities that lack a traditional grocery store.

“Fresh food is essential for good health, so our partnership with CDPHP is a natural fit. We are grateful for their generosity and recognition of the value that the Farmacy project brings to the community,” said Brittany Christenson, Executive Director of AdkAction.

“At CDPHP, we know that ready access to fresh food and good health are inextricably linked,” said John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO of CDPHP. “This partnership with AdkAction will ensure North Country residents can access, prepare, and consume fresh, healthy foods that will help them live their healthiest lives.”

At-risk and low-income families face many obstacles when it comes to accessing fresh food, especially in rural North Country towns that cannot sustain traditional grocery stores and continue to experience store closures. Many rural communities in the North Country experience high food insecurity rates due to the following issues:

•       Limited access to transportation;
•       Limited access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)-authorized businesses; and
•       The inability to afford fresh fruits and vegetables

 The AdkAction Farmacy project has seen success with a partnership with the Keeseville Pharmacy as well as Mountain Weavers Farm Store in Port Henry, NY. Both locations operate this unique model that allows residents access to fresh, local food in areas where typical grocery stores are not present. This partnership will bring financial support to our Farmacy project to continue this work around the region. With the recently awarded grant from CDPHP, the AdkAction Farmacy project will continue to expand to meet the needs of additional North Country communities and educate residents on the importance of eating healthy, local food.

About CDPHP^®
Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 26 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.