IU Health Garden On The Go

IU Health Garden on the Go is Indiana University Health’s year-round mobile produce delivery program providing fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables to neighborhoods in need, often referred to as “food deserts,” throughout Marion County. The program visits the same 16 stops, each week, year-round and just added additional rotating stops on Tuesdays thanks to a generous gift from the Indianapolis Foundation.

HOW IT WORKS: Produce is unloaded off the truck at each stop and brought indoors where people can gather in a farmer’s market-type atmosphere. IU Health contracts with Green B.E.A.N. Delivery, a grocery home delivery company, to manage the day-to-day operations and staff the stops. Shoppers can pay with cash, credit, debit or food stamps (SNAP/EBT).

HEALTH: IU Health is committed to lowering the risk for obesity and other diet-related chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, in the communities it serves. Less than 25 percent of Marion County residents eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, which contributes to Indiana’s high rates of obesity for both adults and adolescents (roughly two-thirds of Hoosiers are obese or overweight).

SUCCESS: The community has embraced IU Health Garden on the Go®, which is approaching its 25,000th sales transaction, making it one of the most successful mobile produce programs in the nation. Furthermore, we receive a steady stream of inquiries about IU Health Garden on the Go®, which is the only health system-sponsored mobile produce program in the nation.