Cook County Pilot Food as Medicine Program Concludes First Season With Positive Results
A pilot "Food as Medicine" program in Cook County, a collaboration between the Northwoods Food Project and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, has concluded its first season. The program provided 11 participants with free weekly shares of locally produced food and health…
Duluth Superior, MN, November 8, 2026 —
A collaborative initiative in Cook County aimed at improving health through nutrition has completed its inaugural season. The pilot “Food as Medicine” program, a joint effort by the Northwoods Food Project and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, provided support to 11 participants over its first run.
The program’s core component involved supplying participants with free weekly shares of locally produced food. In addition to the food provisions, participants also received health coaching. The stated objectives of the program were to combat food insecurity and address health issues that are often linked to diet.
Organizers of the “Food as Medicine” initiative have reported positive health outcomes among the participants. Details regarding the specific health results or the duration of the health coaching were not provided in the summary. The exact nature of the locally produced food shares also remains unspecified.
Following the conclusion of the pilot season, organizers have indicated plans for an expansion of the program. Further details about the scope or timeline of this expansion were not available. The Northwoods Food Project and Sawtooth Mountain Clinic have not yet released specific information on how the program will grow or what additional resources will be involved.
The collaboration between a local food organization and a healthcare provider signifies an approach to healthcare that integrates nutritional support directly into patient care pathways. The success reported in this initial phase suggests a potential for similar programs to address public health challenges related to diet and access to healthy food.
Story summarized from the original created by Kalli Hawkins on wtip.org, see more information here.
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