DOVER – Today, Governor Matt Meyer announced the establishment of the Delaware Food is Medicine Committee, a statewide initiative to improve health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and strengthen local food systems through the power of nutrition. Poor nutrition is at the core of many chronic diseases and negative health outcomes. This committee will be tasked with shifting Delaware’s health system from reactive treatment to proactive prevention by making food a formal part of healthcare.

“Delaware’s Food is Medicine Committee will connect residents with high-quality meals and produce to improve clinical care, lower healthcare costs, and advance health equity,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “Drawing on research and examples from other states, we will scale what works and ensure positive results. Together, we’ll build a healthier, more equitable Delaware — where food is seen as both nourishment and healthcare.”

Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay will chair the committee, leading a diverse team of leaders from healthcare, agriculture, research, and community organizations to develop Delaware’s first statewide Food is Medicine framework. The committee will draw on proven models in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and California while building upon the research and insights from leaders like Tufts University’s Food is Medicine Institute and Kaiser Permanente’s nutrition-in-healthcare initiatives. The committee’s work will also align with national frameworks such as the American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food.

For questions or to schedule an interview with Gov. Meyer, please email mila.myles@delaware.gov.