Initially started as a mobile food truck, About Fresh launched its Fresh Connect platform in 2018 to offer a Fresh Connect debit card to food-insecure individuals enrolled in the program by healthcare providers. About Fresh says on its website that it tracks shopping activity and creates monthly activity reports on how participants use their card benefits.

Josh Trautwein, co-founder and CEO of About Fresh, claims that the organization is the first to offer a “retailer-agnostic, frictionless point-of-sale payment solution for food prescriptions.” 

In conjunction with the Giant Food partnership, About Fresh also said in its Tuesday announcement that it’s now working with DC Greens, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that is focused on advancing health equity through food.

About Fresh noted that DC Greens has been responsible for administering the city’s produce prescription program, which allows medical professionals to prescribe fresh fruits and vegetables to patients with diet-related chronic illnesses. The launch of Fresh Connect at Giant Food ties into the DC Greens’ oversight of that prescription program. 

“As a food retailer, we recognize the important role we play in improving access to healthy and affordable food,” Lisa Coleman, MS, RD, and director of healthy living at Giant Food, said in a statement. “Our partnership with About Fresh allows Giant to expand produce prescriptions and other nutrition incentive solutions to community partners who are also focused on health.”

Giant Food’s new partnership builds on its efforts over the years to address a lack of access to fresh and nutritious food. Last month, the grocer announced a more than $765,000 donation as part of a campaign to address food insecurity among children in local communities.

By Catherine Douglas Moran on Nov 16, 2022
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