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Growing Food4Health to New Heights

September 27, 2024

CHH cut the ribbon on its hydroponic rooftop garden to further support the Food4Health program and provide food access to the community.

Built by Levo International, a Hartford-based company, this system utilizes food-safe PVC pipes to grow produce efficiently. Water is pumped through the pipes, with added nutrients tailored to each plant, promoting faster growth.

With a “plant-to-plate” time estimated at just 24 to 48 hours, the garden will provide the freshest produce to Food4Health patients.

The Food4Health Clinic at CHH is designed like a local grocery store, providing fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy items at no cost for patients with prescriptions from CHH physicians. Since its opening in December, the program has successfully grown to serve 65 families, offering food tailored to specific health concerns such as low-sodium options for those with high blood pressure and specialized items and recipes for patients with diabetes.

The Food4Health program began at Hartford HealthCare at Hartford Hospital in 2022 and has since expanded with satellite locations at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living, Charlotte Hungerford and Windham hospitals. Food4Health gardens at Hartford HealthCare have harvested more than 2,100 pounds of food this year.