Together, we transform healthcare by integrating food into medicine
The Food as Medicine Collaborative bridges healthcare and food systems to advance nutrition security and health equity.
What we do
Bridging health and food to advance nutrition security and health equity
The Food as Medicine Collaborative (FAMC) is a multi-sector coalition of over 20 community clinics, food nonprofits and businesses, policy advocates, and four healthcare systems. We integrate nutrition security into healthcare, partner with health systems, and inform policy change. Together, we cultivate lasting partnerships that center patient trust, health, and well being.
Our Impact
Improving health outcomes and increasing nutrition security
FAMC’s Food Pharmacies have a proven impact. In 2024, we saw the following results:
1,300+
Patients and their families served
in San Francisco
99%
Recommend food pharmacy
to family and/or friends
13,000+
Visits to food pharmacies
connecting participants with healthy food, health care, and community
Decrease BP
More than -15 drop in participant blood pressure
on average
Decrease A1c
More than -1 drop in participant A1c
on average
Transforming the system through policy advocacy
Our Impact
We work to successfully implement CalAIM community food supports in San Francisco and advocate for medically supportive food interventions to become covered health benefits throughout California
In 2021, we successfully advocated to include medically supportive food and nutrition into California’s 5-year CalAIM Medicaid waiver program.
In 2024, we co-sponsored a bill in Sacramento that received bipartisan support, was championed by the Black Caucus, and passed out of both houses without opposition.
Toolkit to Support Food Pharmacies
Technical Assistance
Practical resources for clinic teams and their partners launching or improving Food Pharmacies.
Donate
Donations are tax deductible. FAMC is a fiscally sponsored project of the San Francisco Public Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To donate, please go to this link and note Food as Medicine in the Memo.
Thank you for helping to improve nutrition security and health equity for vulnerable communities in San Francisco and beyond.
“People are fed by the food industry, which pays no attention to health, and are treated by the health industry, which pays no attention to food.”
Wendell Berry
Land Acknowledgement
We, Food as Medicine Collaborative, acknowledge we are on the unceeded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the Ancestors, Elders and Relatives of the Ramaytush Community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples.