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.
Healthy Options and Food Security
Circumstances we’re helping to improve:
Reducing environmental impacts
Helping to reduce environmental impacts on our region by leveraging our purchasing power
Supporting local farms and workers
Farm-to-fork contributes to local ag job and income security, including for migrant workers who often face health disparities
Food literacy, access and security
To inspire healthy habits, erase “food deserts,” and support partners helping families with food security
Some examples of our efforts:
Healthy Options, Food Literacy
Spotlight: ‘Farm to hospital’
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.
Food Literacy
Spotlight: Supporting food literacy education
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.
Farmworker Health
Spotlight: Programs for ag workers
UC Davis Health and UC Davis are home to or involved in a number of projects supporting farmworker health. Some examples:
- Activate, a demonstration project using digital health to improve well-being of underserved and rural communities, in partnership with community health centers
- MOVE IT UP, a project to increase access to COVID vaccines, testing and treatment for historically underserved communities, with a focus on Latinos and Latino farmworkers
- The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, founded to improve health and safety of agricultural workers through research, training, and outreach
Food Security
Spotlight: Supporting food banks
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 served an average of 1,573 households per week in 2023, including emergency food distribution from locations in Midtown and Arden. The Arden location, which is funded by UC Davis Health, served an average of 733 households per week.
Healthy Options
Spotlight: Supporting farmer’s markets
UC Davis Health has been a supporter of the Oak Park Farmer’s Market. During the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, we also hosted COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics to provide vaccinations and health education.
More Believe in Better Highlights
Some recent examples of our ongoing efforts to advance health for all.
UC Davis Health ramps up work with small, diverse local businesses by 23%
As part of its Anchor Institution Mission, UC Davis Health has increased its local spending on small and diverse businesses by 23%.
School of Medicine hosts Merced County teenagers and encourages them to become physicians
Nearly 20 high school students from Merced County visited the UC Davis School of Medicine to learn what it takes to become a doctor.
New study points to racial and social barriers that block treatment for multiple myeloma
Socioeconomic factors are preventing some patients from accessing common treatment to stop progression of multiple myeloma.
New study confirms community pharmacies can help people quit smoking
New study by UC Davis researchers shows how pharmacies may provide crucial access to tobacco cessation tools that help people successfully quit smoking.