Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) Program

What is Prescription for Health (FVRx)?

The Prescription for Health program at Aspirus is going into its 8th year. Reports on Wisconsin’s health status show that we all have room for improvement when it comes to fruit and vegetable consumption. Eating at least 5 cups a day of fruits and veggies is an effective way to prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

This program is designed so that health care providers and staff can help eligible patients eat more fruits and veggies by using local resources, in particular, local farmers’ markets.

How it Works

  • Step 1:
    Hospital establishes funded prescription program (community benefit)

  • Step 2:
    Medical providers and staff give prescriptions to identified patients

  • Step 3:
    Patients bring prescriptions to participating markets to purchase produce

 

When your health care provider gives you a Prescription for Health (FVRx), you get:

  • Access to information on how to buy, store and consume local produce
  • Tips and strategies for feeding your family more fruits and veggies
  • Tokens to be used at participating farmers’ market to purchase local, fresh fruits and vegetables for you and your family

Our hope is that this prescription becomes an incentive for families to visit their farmers’ markets and explore local fruits and veggies together, and that exploring the farmers market sparks an interest learning how to eat more fruits and veggies!

I enrolled, now what?

  1. Don’t lose your Prescription for Health (FVRx) voucher. As soon as you are able, visit your local participating farmers’ market. For a full listing of participating markets view the listing at the bottom of this page. Bring your children with! Farmers’ Markets are great environments for children. They can meet the person that grew their food and ask them anything they want! Giving your children the option to choose which fruits and veggies they want to buy is empowering and increases their willingness to try these fruits and veggies at home.
  2. Present your Prescription for Health voucher at the booth labeled “FVRx redeemed here.”
  3. Collect your Prescription for Health (FVRx) tokens and spend them on fresh, local fruits and veggies! The producers at the market are used to seeing these tokens by now so spending them should be a smooth process.
  4. Go home and figure out what to do with those fruits and veggies! For help with this part, look in your folder or on this page to find resources, tips and recipes.

It is our hope that you will find this program beneficial in starting your path to a healthier lifestyle. If you have questions about the program, please work with your health care provider. They are here to support you!

Voucher Program Participating Markets

The below listings are subject to change. Updates will be made as information becomes available.


WI Wisconsin Locations

Antigo
Antigo Farmers’ Market
Located between 6th and 7th Ave, Peaceful Valley Park Pavilion
June - September
Website
715-219-0124 (Market Manager)

Cadott
Cadott Farmers Market
Riverview Park
Saturdays, 9am - 12pm
June 15 – September 14, 2024
Website

Eagle River
Eagle River Farmers' Market
Sundays 8:30am - 2pm | Wednesdays 8:30am - 1pm
501-599 Michigan St, Eagle River, WI 54521
715-477-0645

Iron County
Iron County Farmers’ Market Hwy 51
13420 N 10th Ave, Hurley, WI (across from Tourist Center)
Wednesdays 3pm - 6pm and Saturdays 10am - 1pm  | Email

Medford
Medford Farmers’ Market 
Saturdays: 8am - 12pm
Taylor County Fairgrounds at the corner of State Hwys 13 & 64
Tuesdays: 1 - 5pm, Downtown Medford at the City Parking Lot on Whelen St one block off State Hwy 64
Website

Merrill
Merrill Area Farmers' Market
Normal Park, 600 N. Center Avenue
Wednesdays and Saturdays 7:30am - 12pm
 
715-218-0418

Minocqua
Minocqua Farmers Market
408 E. Chicago Ave
Fridays, 8am - 1pm
May 17 - October 11, 2024
Website

Portage
Portage Farmers’ Market

303 W Wisconsin Street
Thursdays 12 - 5pm 
608-742-6242

Stevens Point
Stevens Point Area Co-Op
633 2nd Street
Mon-Fri: Curbside 7am - 9am; In-store 8am - 8pm; Sat-Sun In-store 9am - 6pm (no curbside)
Website
715-341-1555

Stevens Point Area Winter Farmers Market Cooperative
Saturdays, November – April
8:00am – 12:00pm
Boys & Girls Club of Portage County
941 Michigan Ave, Stevens Point, WI

Tomahawk
Tomahawk Farmers’ Market
Northside of 3rd Street and Wisconsin Avenue
Tuesdays 11 - 3pm, June - October
715-453-1090

Wausau
Farmers’ Market of Wausau
River Drive
Wednesdays and Saturdays 7am - sell out
Website

Wausau Winter Market
130 N 1st Street, Wausau
Saturdays 8am - 12pm
November – April

 

Aspirus Farmers Market
Aspirus Corporate Lot
2200 Westwood Drive, Wausau, WI 54401
Thursdays 9am - 3pm
715-843-1217

Weston
Village of Weston Farmers’ Market
Weston Market Place
Tuesday and Saturdays 8am - 2pm
715-359-6114

Wisconsin Rapids
Wisconsin Rapids Downtown Farmers’ Market
220 1st Ave South
Thursdays and Saturdays 8am - 2pm
Website
715-421-8942

UPMichigan Locations

Calumet
Calumet Farmers Market
Agassiz Park, 4th Street, Calumet, MI 49913
Saturdays, 10am - 2pm, June 15 - October 12
Website |  Email

Calumet Cool Season Farmers Market
Copper Country Curling Club (behind the Calumet Colosseum)
Saturdays, 10am - 1pm, October 19 - November 23

Hancock
Hancock Tori & Farmers Market
Quincy Green, 417 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930
Thursdays, 3 - 6pm, June 13 - October 10
Website  |  Email

Houghton
Houghton Farmers Market
Houghton Pier, 56 Huron Street, Houghton, MI 49931
Tuesdays, 3 - 6pm, June 11 - October 8
Website  |  Email 

Lake Linden
Lake Linden Farmers Market
Lake Linden Village Park M26, Lake Linden, MI
Fridays 4-7pm, June-September
Email  |  Website

Ironwood
Ironwood Historic Depot Park
150 N Lowell Street
Fridays 4-6pm

Ironwood
Ironwood Township Airport Park
E5560 Airport Road
Tuesdays 4-6pm

Helpful Resources