Florida’s “Farm-to-Hospital” Pledge to Expand Fresh, Medically Tailored Meals for Patients

Florida’s “Farm-to-Hospital” Pledge to Expand Fresh, Medically Tailored Meals for Patients

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz attend Miami launch 

MIAMI, FL— Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) convened federal, state, and local healthcare leaders at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for a “Take Back Your Health” event with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The event announced Florida’s first voluntary, statewide pledge connecting hospitals with farmers who can provide whole foods for patients. Building on a groundbreaking initiative in Kentucky, this cross-sector collaboration will expand access to fresh, nutrient-dense, medically tailored meals, especially for children receiving care in specialized units. 

"Thanks to the America First Policy Institute for advocating to improve nutrition in health care. And thank you to Nicklaus Children’s Health System President & CEO Matthew Love and his outstanding team for your hospitality, your leadership, and your commitment to putting real food on patients’ plates,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Quality health care starts with quality food. The actions announced today will help improve patient outcomes, prevent chronic disease, and Make America Healthy Again.” 

The pledge, offered by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, creates a pathway for all Florida hospitals to source higher volumes from local producers, strengthening nutrition strategies for patients. It will also help overcome contracting and procurement barriers that have historically limited farm-to-hospital sourcing.  

"Any time we can encourage connecting our Florida farmers with customers is a triple win. We get healthy food to consumers, we support our local economy, and we strengthen our national security through domestic supply,” said Commissioner Simpson. “Florida’s Department of Agriculture has a successful program for food banks and we stand ready to expand our Farmers Feeding Florida program to our hospitals and patients. We are grateful for the leadership of President Trump and his administration for this effort."

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are the first to sign the pledge, with hospitals across the state encouraged to join. 

The day of events, coinciding with National Nutrition month, kicked off with a private roundtable with hospital executives and food-system partners to discuss scalable solutions that support better health outcomes and healthier communities. Following the roundtable, Secretary Kennedy visited patients and staff to highlight the role of nutrition and tailored meals in medical care. 

The programming culminated in a press conference outlining the partnership's goals and next steps, including the vision to expand farm-to-hospital models in states across the country. Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz also announced that CMS sent out a health and safety memo to American hospitals today to encourage compliance with the Dietary Guidelines of America.  

Select photos from the event are available here, approved for use with credit to the America First Policy Institute (AFPI).

The Nicklaus-Florida Department of Agriculture partnership is expected to support initiatives that may include:

• Expanded farm-to-hospital purchasing and streamlined sourcing pathways for local producers, including a commitment from participating hospitals to spend at least 5% of their yearly food and drink budget on nutritious, whole foods that align with the new federal Dietary Guidelines
• Workforce and training programs connected to nutrition services and food preparation
• Medically tailored meal strategies designed for specific patient populations
• Partnerships that help hospitals improve food quality and nutrient density across menus

"Florida is showing what’s possible when healthcare leaders, agriculture, and public officials work together to put patients first,” said Hannah Anderson, AFPI Director of Healthy America Policy and Senior Director of Policy. “This is about practical solutions—better food, better health, and a model that can be replicated nationwide." 

“Every state should be able to do this,” said Stacey Schieffelin, AFPI Chief External Affairs Officer and Chair of the America First Women’s Initiative. “This is not red or blue—this is about feeding the American people and helping families live healthier lives.”

America First Policy Institute is proud to support efforts to elevate scalable, nonpartisan solutions that improve nutrition, strengthen local agriculture, and help institutions deliver healthier food to the people they serve. 

Learn more about AFPI’s Healthy America work here.

Learn more about AFPI’s Farmers First Agenda here.