“Partnering with Yolo County Farm to Fork expands on the commitments of Woodland Clinic Medical Group to promote health equity in our community through healthy eating,” says Karen Hopp, MD, CEO of Woodland Clinic Medical Group. “Childhood obesity is preventable, and learning that good nutrition tastes great is an excellent first step.”

“The food we eat is an important determinant of health,” says Dr. Samuel Siegel. “Fast food and junk food are prevalent in our current food ecosystem, and eating unhealthy foods in excess can lead to kids developing health concerns like obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure  as teenagers and adults.”

According to Dr. Siegel, Woodland Clinic Medical Group identified Yolo Farm To Fork as “an organization that is working to lower the rates of childhood obesity in our community by teaching children how to grow their own food, and that healthy eating is not only fun and rewarding — but delicious!” 

“This donation will go a long way towards helping our students learn about creating sustainable gardens and eating healthy meals,” said WJUSD Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin. “Through the Growing Lunch program, our students are growing and harvesting fresh produce and eating healthy fruits and vegetables straight from their own gardens at school. This is an added benefit for our students and our district.”

Yolo Farm to Fork President Suzanne Falzone says the nonprofit was “surprised and deeply honored at the generosity of the Woodland Clinic Medical Group clinicians. Dignity Health Woodland Clinic shares our goal of improving the nutrition and good health of the families who go to their clinic and our Woodland schools. Their donation will allow us to continue sustaining the gardens managed by our staff and interns in Woodland schools.” 

Falzone adds that in the past three years, “in spite of COVID, Woodland student gardeners have grown and harvested over 15,000 pounds of fresh fruit and veggies for use in student meals and snacks." 

About Woodland Clinic Medical Group 

Woodland Clinic Medical Group (WCMG) was established in 1911 and has been committed to providing exceptional patient care in the Woodland and Davis communities ever since. WCMG consists of approximately 100 physicians and 60 licensed health care professionals who provide care at Dignity Health Woodland Clinic, which has locations in Woodland and Davis, as well as Woodland Memorial Hospital. 

About Dignity Health Woodland Clinic

Dignity Health Woodland Clinic, a service of Dignity Health Medical Foundation, is a multi-specialty clinic with seven locations in Woodland and Davis. Along with Woodland Memorial Hospital, we offer an integrated care delivery system that provides primary care for family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Learn more here: www.dhmf.org/woodland