News and Stories

Thanks to the dedicated advocacy efforts of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative Community Council, in partnership with the American Heart Association and community-based organizations across San Diego County, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has allocated $500,000 in the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget to continue the ¡Más Fresco! Plus Produce Prescription Program.

This achievement reflects the collective leadership of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative Community Council, the American Heart Association, community-based organizations, healthcare partners, local farmers, and County leaders who worked together to ensure continued access to healthy food for families across San Diego County.

This investment will enable the program to continue providing community members experiencing food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease with locally grown, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables delivered directly to their homes.

The Community Council played a vital role in securing this funding by bringing community voices directly to County decision-makers. Council members met with members of the County Board of Supervisors, coordinated the Community Council's first joint letter of support for the program signed by 10 partner organizations, and provided public comment during the June 2026 Board of Supervisors meeting. Together, these efforts helped demonstrate both the program's measurable impact and the broad community support for its continuation.

Today, more than 25% of San Diego County residents experience food insecurity. Through this investment, approximately 400 households will receive weekly deliveries of healthy, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables for six months, resulting in the delivery of more than 9,000 produce boxes throughout the program period.

¡Más Fresco! Plus is directed by the Food is Medicine Unit at the UC San Diego Center for Community Health in partnership with Self-Sufficiency Services, Foodshed Cooperative, Yasukochi Family Farms, and an outstanding network of community-based organizations, including Alliance Health Clinic, Comité Organizador Latino de City Heights, Pacific Islander Collective San Diego, Proyecto Trans Latina, SBCS, San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition, Thrive Lemon Grove, Union of Pan Asian Communities, Vista Community Clinic, and many other valued community partners.

Since its launch in 2022, ¡Más Fresco! Plus has served more than 3,500 households across San Diego County, delivering more than 74,000 farm-fresh produce boxes and providing over $2.1 million in nutrition incentives to families facing significant barriers to healthy food access. The program has also generated more than $4.1 million in local economic impact, including more than $3.6 million supporting local farms and food producers, demonstrating that investments in Food is Medicine programs can strengthen both community health and the regional economy.

On behalf of the community members, farmers, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations who make this work possible, we extend our sincere appreciation to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for its leadership and commitment to improving food security, supporting local agriculture, and advancing equitable access to healthy food and better health outcomes.

This investment reflects the power of collaboration between County government, healthcare, agriculture, and community organizations working together to improve the health and well-being of San Diego County residents.

— ¡Más Fresco! Plus Produce Prescription Program Collective Impact Team & San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative Community Council