From having access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables to supporting the region’s farmers, UC Davis Health is committed to farm-to-fork initiatives that improve food security and access to healthy, locally sourced options.
From having access to affordable fresh fruits and vegetables to supporting the region’s farmers, UC Davis Health is committed to farm-to-fork initiatives that improve food security and access to healthy, locally sourced options.
Helping to reduce environmental impacts on our region by leveraging our purchasing power
Farm-to-fork contributes to local ag job and income security, including for migrant workers who often face health disparities
To inspire healthy habits, erase “food deserts,” and support partners helping families with food security
UC Davis Health strives to become a model for other health care facilities. The medical center is home to one of Sacramento’s largest production kitchens and creator of 6,500 meals a day. In 2017, we began locally sourcing whole-food and plant-based ingredients. The goal: To source the majority of food within a 250-mile radius of the hospital.
Our chefs team up with the Food Literacy Center to teach cooking and nutrition in low-income schools, among kids who are at highest risk for diet-related diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
UC Davis Health and UC Davis are home to or involved in a number of projects supporting farmworker health. Some examples:
UC Davis Health partners with local organizations to support grocery programs throughout our community. The health system has provided support for the River City Food Bank and several other local community-based organizations, assisting hundreds of families.
For example, River City Food Bank’s emergency food distributions located in Midtown and Arden provided nearly 3.5 million pounds of healthy, culturally meaningful food to an average of 2,000 low-income households per week in 2024. The Arden location, which is supported by UC Davis Health, served an average of 1,100 households per week.
Some recent examples of our ongoing efforts to advance health for all.
Insights from a new study on war trauma on Vietnamese Americans can shape future research on aging, trauma and brain health.
The City of Sacramento has provided a grant to expand a UC Davis Health workforce development program that trains people to become Clinical Research Coordinators.
A partnership between the School of Medicine’s Department of Medical Microbiology and Yolo County high schools introduces teenagers to academic research during a 10-week, hands-on internship
Children aged 2 to 4 years are exposed to a broad range of environmental chemicals, with a new study showing 34 potentially harmful chemicals detected in more than 90% of children.