The Boss Lady introduces the ‘Food is Medicine Initiative’ in the Delta
An official rollout for the “Food is Medicine Initiative” press conference and community food distribution will be held on March 21, 2025 (10:00 am) at the Bolivar County Expo Building located at 601 1st in Cleveland, Mississippi.
Preliminary reports state, “Dr. Pam Chatman of The Boss Lady Economic Planning and Development of Cleveland, Mississippi, is spearheading the ‘Food is Medicine Initiative’ in partnership with Carl Boyanton with Farmed Fresh for Mississippi and Andrew Barrier with the Project Food Box Project. The partnership will potentially yield a regular delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to Mississippians who need healthy food alternatives that will result in savings regarding the cost of healthcare while promoting healthy eating.”
A food box distribution will coincide with the press conference. Hundreds of food boxes will be made available for residents, along with cooking instructions. Team members will be on hand to explain how the distribution process works. Booth demonstrators will show how the food boxes are constructed. Weekly boxes are to be delivered directly to households year-round consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables provided by local farms, thus giving small businesses a commercial boost.
Dr. Chatman states, “The long-term vision is to create more agricultural jobs and better returns while reducing healthcare costs related to chronic diseases that Mississippi leads the nation in, such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes that are especially pervasive in the Mississippi Delta. The goal of the project is to offer common-sense solutions that tackle a large group of ailments we face in Mississippi. This is a two-pronged approach that will change eating habits by providing quality fruits and vegetables on a regular basis and giving box recipients recipes and new ways of cooking foods that make the ‘Food is Medicine Initiative’ a real and tangible way to reduce and treat chronic diseases by prescribing a nutrient-rich way of eating that consists of low-calorie foods.”
In a final comment, The Boss Lady said, “The ‘Food is Medicine Initiative’ has the potential and capability to be expanded nationwide by replicating the efforts in Mississippi and around the nation.”
Author
