October 24, 2025
Fresh food, better health
How fresh groceries are helping reduce ongoing health conditions in Lane County, Oregon.
Emily Garver with Food for Lane County meets with Lisa Gray, on right, who is working to improve her health with fresh produce and education.
Kaiser Permanente believes that food is medicine and that healthy eating is one of the best ways to help people feel better and live longer. That’s why we.ve partnered with Food for Lane County and invested $150,000 to start a medically tailored grocery box program. The program aims to improve health outcomes for patients who are dealing with health problems like diabetes, obesity, and other ongoing conditions.
During the 2-year grant term, the program will support about 120 households in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Each household includes at least one patient identified through screening at South Lane Community Health Center for food insecurity, obesity, or diabetes. These patients receive weekly grocery boxes filled with fresh produce — along with something else: education.
Growing beyond food
“The fresh grocery boxes offer more than just food,” said Akiko Imamura Betcher, Kaiser Permanente community health lead for the grant program. Each box includes easy-to-read nutrition tips and recipes developed by a registered dietitian. “These materials teach people how to cook fresh meals, understand basic nutrition, store vegetables, and make better choices at mealtime.”
According to Emily Garver at Food Lane County, Cottage Grove is one of the most food-insecure areas in the county. Annually, the Cottage Gove food pantry provides over 14,000 food boxes to local families.
“The goal is not just to provide food, but to empower families to make lasting changes in their eating habits,” Garver said.
For Lisa Gray, the grocery boxes are already making a difference. Gray has been dealing with ongoing health issues. Her doctor at the clinic recently diagnosed her with diabetes and referred her to the program.
“I am learning how to eat,” she said. “Getting fresh vegetables and recipes is great. I am already starting to feel better about my health and my food choices.”
The program also highlights the importance of Kaiser Permanente’s partnership and support of community-based organizations.
It takes a community
Food for Lane County collaborates with the local health clinic to identify patients who will benefit from the program. Patients are referred to the program by their primary care doctor at the clinic. They are then connected with the health center’s community health worker, Liz Camacho. Camacho helps enroll each patient in the fresh grocery intake process and ensures they receive their weekly boxes provided by Lane County Bounty, an online farmers market.
Getting fresh vegetables and recipes is great. I am already starting to feel better about my health and my food choices. Lisa Gray
Camacho, or a Food for Lane County community health worker, is on site for the weekly box distribution. In addition to educating patients, the community health worker can help with customizing the 
groceries, or supporting patients in addressing other needs.
Community health workers are trained on how best to help patients with other social health issues such as housing or financial assistance. Camacho is part of the clinic health care team and builds an ongoing relationship with the patients.
Camacho learned that one of the patients was living in a tent. “They were unable to cook fresh food,” she said. “We adjusted their box to allow them to be able to have food that did not need to be cooked,” she said. “I also worked to identify other local resources, as well as potential housing support services, based on the person’s needs.”
Generational change
Programs Kaiser Permanente supports, like Food for Lane County’s medically tailored grocery boxes, can lead to real change. This program helps entire families manage their health one meal at a time.
“My husband now looks forward to the box,” Gray said. “We talk about what is in the box and try the recipes. We share meals with our daughter. She is learning to eat healthier, too.”
Gray’s experience highlights the ripple effect of the program. “My daughter is now cooking healthy meals for her daughter based on what we have learned. Then she shares what she cooks with us. We are all feeling the difference from learning to eat healthy.”
Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s work to improve the health of our communities.
