Food as Medicine program wraps up pilot season in Cook County

A pilot program connecting local farmers with health care providers and patients in Cook County wrapped up its first season this fall, with organizers looking to expand the effort next year.

The Northwoods Food Project’s Food as Medicine program partnered with Sawtooth Mountain Clinic to provide patients experiencing food insecurity or diet-related health concerns with weekly shares of fresh, locally produced food at no cost.

During the 14-week pilot, which ran from July through early October, 11 participants received weekly food shares assembled from eight local farms and producers.

Northwoods Food Project Director Kate Cowie-Haskell said the program initially aimed to provide between $25 and $35 worth of food per share. However, an abundance of available produce and other products allowed the organization to increase that amount to an average of about $50.

“100% of that food was from producers who are based in Cook or Lake County,” Cowie-Haskell said during a recent interview on WTIP.

Along with fresh produce, participants received locally raised and butchered chicken, maple syrup, and wild rice. Another aspect of the pilot program included access to a health and wellness coach, who provided recipes and nutritional information to help participants prepare the food and incorporate it into their diets.

“The program is already showing results: one provider described a patient’s improved diabetes measurements and attributed the change to Food as Medicine,” said Liv Thompson, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s Outreach Coordinator, in a press release this week.

The pilot also revealed an opportunity to strengthen the connection between local farmers and the regional food system. Cowie-Haskell said she sees the program as a cultural shift.

Cowie-Haskell said organizers were surprised by how much food was available from local producers this summer, even though the program began relatively late in the growing season. With more advance planning, the organization hopes to work with farmers to grow specific quantities for the program and establish a more predictable market for their products.

Funding from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Security Grant helped launch the pilot program. Northwoods Food Project also received support from the Northland Foundation, Empty Bowls, and the Cook County Public Health Grants, administered by Public Health and Human Services. The organization has secured enough funding to continue the program next year and hopes to expand participation.

WTIP spoke with Northwoods Food Project Director Kate Cowie-Haskell to learn more about the pilot project, lessons learned, and plans for the program’s future. Listen to the full interview below.

Kalli Hawkins November 8, 2026