Pitney Meadows Community Farm Secures Three-Year Funding To Expand Successful Food As Medicine Program

Pitney Meadows Community Farm has been awarded a transformative three-year grant from The Hortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region to expand its Food as Medicine: Clinical program in partnership with Saratoga Community Health Center, scaling its long-running Nutrition Rx program and deepening the integration of fresh, locally grown food into healthcare.

Now entering its seventh year, this collaboration has brought fresh, locally grown food directly into patient care, demonstrating that food can function as a powerful, evidence-based component of healthcare. With this investment, Pitney Meadows and Saratoga Community Health Center will expand the program together, increasing both its reach and its measurable clinical impact.

Over the next three years, the program will double its impact each year, growing from 20 to 40 to 80 participants per year across two healthcare settings: Saratoga Community Health Center and the Saratoga Backstretch Clinic.

Each patient receives weekly prescription produce boxes over an extended six-month growing season, along with nutrition education in a group setting, and ongoing support, ensuring consistent, meaningful access to fresh, local food throughout the peak of the regional harvest. Participants also complete pre- and post-program assessments to track changes in food access, health outcomes, and behavior.

“This is a turning point for how healthcare shows up for people in our community,” said Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm. “Over the past seven years, our partnership with Dr. Rodriguez and CHC has proven that when you connect people to fresh, nourishing, local food, health outcomes change. Now, we have the opportunity to scale that work… embedding food not as a supplement, but as a fundamental part of care and overall wellness.

A Trusted Hub for Food, Health, and Community

Over the past decade, Pitney Meadows has grown into a regional leader in nutrition-based interventions, serving low-income individuals and families, those facing chronic illness, and residents at high social risk.

Each year, the farm contributes more than 100,000 servings of fresh, nutrient-dense produce, valued at over $90,000, to over a dozen food pantries and community partners across Saratoga County, while also offering free cooking and nutrition education to hundreds of participants.

At the center of this work is a simple but powerful idea: when people have consistent access to fresh, local food, education, and support, health outcomes improve. That belief has been tested and proven through its long-standing clinical partnership.

From Prescription to Plate: A Healthcare Partnership That Works

This deeply collaborative program between Pitney Meadows Community Farm and Saratoga Community Health Center integrates local, fresh food directly into patient care. Providers identify and refer patients experiencing food insecurity or managing chronic illness, connecting them to consistent, medically aligned nutrition support. Participants have demonstrated measurable improvements in key health indicators, including BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c, and cholesterol levels, alongside increased readiness to adopt healthier behaviors.

“This is what it looks like when healthcare expands beyond the exam room,” said Dr. Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote, Medical Director at Saratoga Community Health Center. “When patients have reliable access to fresh, nutritious food, combined with education and support, we see real, measurable changes in their health. Food is not an add-on to care. It is essential.”

Part of a Broader “Food for All” Vision

The Food as Medicine: Clinical program is one part of Pitney Meadows’ broader Food for All programming, which also includes its Farm-to-Pantry program and residential-based Food as Medicine efforts. Together, these programs form a comprehensive approach to addressing food insecurity and health inequities, linking agriculture, healthcare, and education to support those most at risk.

“This food isn’t anonymous,” said Daniel Williams, Assistant Farm Manager for Food for All Programs at Pitney Meadows Community Farm. “It’s grown right here, by people in this community. Each delivery says: you matter, your health matters, and your community is investing in your well-being. That’s where the real impact begins.”

More Than a Program: A Shift in How We Care

As food insecurity rises and healthcare systems grapple with increasing rates of diet-related disease, programs like Food as Medicine are gaining national attention as effective, preventative solutions. Here in Saratoga County, that work remains deeply rooted in the community.

Each box represents a network of farmers, healthcare providers, and community partners working together to support their neighbors. It reflects a belief that food is not just fuel, but a form of care, connection, and possibility.

With sustained investment from the Hortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, this model will continue to expand over the next three years, reaching more patients, strengthening partnerships, and building a healthier, more connected Saratoga County. Pitney Meadows and the Saratoga Community Health Center are grateful for the Fund’s leadership in advancing solutions that recognize food as a critical component of health and for investing in models that bridge healthcare and community.

“The Rubin Advisory Committee and the Community Foundation staff recognize the important role access to nutritious food plays in an individual’s overall health," said Bob Audi, Rubin Advisory Committee Chairperson. "The Pitney Meadows Food as Medicine program not only provides this access; it also connects individuals to clinical health services they may not otherwise be able to access. We are proud to support impactful programs in our nonprofit communities.” 

About Pitney Meadows Community Farm

Pitney Meadows Community Farm’s mission is to grow food, community, and connection, and to educate about the natural world right here on our conserved farm in the heart of Saratoga Springs. We see a future where people and nature grow together. By caring for the land and sharing what we grow, we help create a healthier, more connected, and more resilient community.

About the Saratoga Community Health Center 

Saratoga Community Health Center is the only facility of its kind in the greater Saratoga region, providing high-quality, primary, dental, behavioral, and addiction medicine health services to members of our community, regardless of their insurance status and ability to pay. For many of our patients, we are their first experience with routine healthcare, which makes a dramatic difference in the quality of their health and life. Staffed with knowledgeable, compassionate healthcare professionals, we will do everything we can to keep you and your family well, connect you with community resources when necessary, and help you navigate through the health system.

About the Hortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region

The Hortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund was established with proceeds from the operation and sale of the Rubin Dialysis Centers. Managed by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region staff and guided by a committee of health care experts, the fund is committed to improving public health outcomes by supporting healthier individuals, families, and communities across the Greater Capital Region. Its focus is to reduce the incidence of chronic kidney disease and related risk factors, including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.