Food as Medicine
Often, good food studies and projects are rooted in an organization’s goal to develop initiatives and enterprises that improve the health and wellness of local community members. Projects may be focused on developing innovative strategies to make healthy, local food more accessible and appealing to underserved communities. Proponents may be looking to understand how more nutritious food can be leveraged by healthcare providers and payers to manage and treat medical conditions. Still others are looking to improve the health and wellness of agricultural workers. While the landscape of these projects and their goals are distinct, they share a common vision – how can and should the good food movement help address health inequities and healthcare challenges across our country?
New Venture Advisors structures highly customized project plans to meet our clients’ specific goals and vision. These plans help us identify and develop innovative strategies and enterprises that can bring better food to those with the biggest need for healthy options.
About Us
New Venture Advisors is a team of business consultants specializing in local food system planning and new enterprise development.
Food as Medicine Projects
Medicaid Medically Tailored Meals Feasibility Study
Lansing, MI
To integrate food and nutrition services into healthcare, Michigan is expanding its Medicaid “In Lieu of Other Services” (ILOS) program. New Venture Advisors supported the Food Bank Council of Michigan by assessing the feasibility of statewide meal production using the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan’s Lansing facility. The team created program structures and pilot-to-scale rollout models supported by innovative financial analysis. This work helps position food banks and community organizations to deliver health-aligned meal services sustainably. (2025)
Food As Medicine Landscape Analysis
Olathe, KS
New Venture Advisors conducted a national and regional landscape analysis to support the Food as Medicine and Community Health Initiative at Kansas State University Olathe. NVA assessed research, programs, partnerships, and funding across academic, industry, and public sectors, identifying opportunities for K-State to lead and collaborate in transdisciplinary work linking food systems, health, and community impact. (2025)
The Food Mill Food Infrastructure and Ag Corridor
Columbus, GA
In Columbus, Georgia, The Food Mill and its partners are transforming a corridor into a vibrant ecosystem for food access and entrepreneurship. New Venture Advisors helped design the model for this next phase, building on earlier facility expansion work. The project features shared kitchens, gardens, food trucks, and retail spaces supported by a Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant. The team also conducted capacity assessments to align partner strengths and expand opportunities across neighborhoods. (2024)
Windy City Harvest VeggieRx Strategic Plan
Chicago, IL
For Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest program, managing the rapid growth of VeggieRx required strategic realignment. New Venture Advisors evaluated the produce prescription program’s expansion and helped refocus its operations for long-term sustainability. The strategic plan redefined success metrics around impact and service quality while aligning ambitions with available capacity. NVA’s recommendations created a balanced framework for scaling health-focused food access programs sustainably. (2024)
Wood County Community Food Center
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
New Venture Advisors assessed the feasibility of a Community Food Center in central Wisconsin, supporting a cross-sector coalition. The work focused on creating efficiencies across hunger and health organizations, expanding access to local foods, supporting farmers and entrepreneurs, reducing stigma, and strengthening workforce development—ultimately informing a sustainable business model that helped catalyze the formation of FOCUS of South Wood County. (2020)
Kōkua Kalihi Valley Strategic Plan
Honolulu, HI
New Venture Advisors supported Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services in strengthening the long-term sustainability of its ROOTS Program, which advances community health through food, culture, and connection. NVA developed a strategic framework clarifying program structure, analyzed unit economics across food-based enterprises and services, and delivered a roadmap to align operations, finances, and mission in support of healing and health in Kalihi Valley. (2019)
Kansas Statewide Food Distribution Study
Topeka, KS
The Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans directs resources toward helping Kansans and Kansas communities achieve and maintain optimal health. Access to fresh food in the many rural communities across the state is of chief concern as rural grocery stores continue to close at an alarming rate. Together with the Rural Grocery Initiative at K-State, Sunflower and NVA assessed the food distribution landscape in Kansas to propose innovative, alternative strategies that will provide critical support to rural grocery stores throughout the state of Kansas. (2018)
Project Angel Heart Social Enterprise
Denver, CO
Project Angel Heart (PAH) delivers medically modified meals to improve quality of life, at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illnesses. New Venture Advisors worked with PAH to develop a Business Plan for a Community Partners Program through which the organization would contract with hospitals to provide meals to patients upon discharge. The program would serve as a new revenue stream for the organization and would help providers align with new requirements and incentives emerging from the Affordable Care Act. The program launched in 2016. (2016)
Kane County Health Equity Planning
Kane County, IL
In partnership with Kane County Planning, New Venture Advisors conducted a Feasibility Study to assess and develop a food hub serving the greater Chicago foodshed. This study grew out of Kane County’s Health Impact Assessment, and has a specific focus on improving health equity across Kane County. Through a dedicated Health Equity phase of work, New Venture Advisors identified unique business model components that ensure the hub’s products will reach Kane County institutions and low-income residents. (2017)
The Food Trust Small Store Study
Philadelphia, PA
New Venture Advisors assisted The Food Trust in conducting a national scan of distribution networks that serve small stores such as corner stores, bodegas, convenience stores, fuel-based retail and rural grocers. The project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, examined the supply chain that moves food from production to the point of consumption to better understand the barriers in bringing fresher and more nutritious foods to small stores. (2016) See the full report here.
