Health Through Food
Our goal within this priority area is that everyone in North Carolina has access to healthy food.
Perspective
Consumption of healthy food is one of the most important building blocks of health. Unfortunately, in North Carolina food insecurity and lack of access to nutritious food in particular are significant and growing concerns.
Our state has the 10th highest rate of food insecurity in the country, a problem that affects children, older adults, communities of color, and those living in rural areas more than others. Higher levels of food insecurity are linked to decreased life expectancy as well as economic impacts that strain households, schools, and the health care system.
Nutrition security – or access to healthy food – is taking just as big a toll, impacting 1.2 million residents. Not being able to access or afford healthy food is having significant bearing on health outcomes, particularly diet-related chronic illnesses with heart disease and diabetes, two of the leading causes of mortality in the state. These chronic conditions are also the highest cost drivers for our state’s health care system.
Yet there’s hope. Opening avenues to healthy food, and therefore improved health is achievable. North Carolina’s flourishing local food system, long growing season, and high agricultural production, along with collaboration involving farmers, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and health care leaders, presents a unique opportunity to address the various roadblocks to getting healthier food in the hands of more people throughout the state.
Approach
Our approach centers on helping bring together, participating in, and supporting a network of organizations working together to address food and nutrition security while benefiting those who produce, process, and make available healthy food. Specifically, this includes:
- Increasing the adoption and expansion of Food is Medicine interventions into health care practice, with a particular focus on partnerships that integrate community-based organizations.
- Boosting sustained access to healthy, affordable food for all and helping transform the way food reaches families.
- Creating conditions that promote lifelong healthy eating for individuals.
Examples of our Work in this Area
- We are supporting, and learning from, nine community-based Food is Medicine programs throughout North Carolina. They range from small operations serving rural or other under-resourced neighborhoods to the largest produce prescription program in the country, whose footprint spans the entire state.
- We are supporting a network of grassroots organizations across the state to expand their ability to advocate for systems and policy change, in order to increase access to healthy food for those most food insecure.
- Our investment in the NC Food Hub Collaborative, which supports local food hubs in counties across the state working to increase access to healthy food and build a stronger food system for all.
Food for Thought: A Vision For Generative 'Food Is Medicine'
North Carolina has a wealth of Food is Medicine programs that are addressing food insecurity and diet-related conditions for people across our state. The backbone and heart of many of these efforts are nonprofit community-based organizations along with small and mid-sized farms. In the April 2025 issue of Health Affairs - which is focused on food, nutrition, and health - Blue Cross NC Foundation staff bring this to light and call for a generative Food is Medicine approach that values and supports local, community-based interventions to maximize their impact. Learn more.
Food is Medicine: Healthier Communities Through Food
North Carolina is well-positioned to lead a transformative movement that connects health care and food security, expanding access to nutritious, affordable food while recognizing the link between wellness and nutrition. With strong agricultural resources and a growing focus on value-based care, the state has the tools and momentum to drive meaningful change. By harnessing the resilience of its people and the leadership of trusted community organizations, North Carolina can advance initiatives like produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and farm partnerships. These efforts support immediate food needs while promoting long-term health—making the state a model for holistic well-being. Learn more.
Spotlight: Food Hubs and Community Health in North Carolina
North Carolina’s strong agricultural output contrasts with its low food security, but food hubs offer a solution by connecting small farmers with communities in need. Food hubs help bridge this gap by aggregating and distributing fresh produce from small farmers to institutions like schools and hospitals, while supporting local economies and fair pricing. The NC Food Hub Collaborative brings together eight nonprofit hubs to amplify their collective impact, with Working Landscapes standing out as a powerful example of how strategic investments in regional infrastructure and strong community partnerships can strengthen local food systems, boost economic resilience, and advance community health. Learn more.
