Green Rural Redevelopment Organization Receives Funding to improve HealthThrough Food in Eastern North Carolina

Funding supports efforts to improve health outcomes and lower health care costs

Henderson, NC — Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO) has received

a grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross

NC Foundation) to expand local efforts that improve access to healthy food, helping

people better manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and

hypertension and reducing health care costs overall. Data released last week highlights

how efforts like these deliver meaningful savings and improve health.

The funding is part of the Blue Cross NC Foundation’s $4 million statewide investment

supporting organizations across North Carolina that are integrating food into health

care. By partnering with trusted local organizations like GRRO, the Foundation is

helping bring practical, effective solutions directly into communities.

“Access to healthy food is foundational to good health,” said Colleen Briggs, President

of the Blue Cross NC Foundation and Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility

at Blue Cross NC. “By investing in community-led Food Is Medicine programs like the

Green Rural Redevelopment, we’re supporting proven strategies that help people

manage chronic conditions, strengthen local food systems, and lower health care costs.”

With this support, GRRO will address poverty, food insecurity, and chronic diseases in

North Carolina through micro-market farming and food-based entrepreneurship to

address the acute and upstream causes of hunger and poverty.

“For our Food Is Medicine initiatives to create lasting impact, we deliver food and food-based solutions consistently across our 15-county network in Eastern North Carolina. We believe that preventing chronic disease and supporting long-term management through food improves health. outcomes today and for generations to come.” — Angel Jones, COO.

Food Is Medicine approaches connect North Carolinians to nutritious food through health care and community partnerships, addressing diet-related chronic conditions while supporting local food systems. Programs funded through this initiative range from produce prescriptions and nutrition education to prepared meals and medically tailored groceries, tailored to meet the needs of each community.

To learn more about GRRO’s Food Is Medicine work, visit www.grronc.org.

To learn more about Food Is Medicine efforts statewide, visit ncfoodismedicine.org.