Wholesome Wave

Wholesome Wave Wholesome Wave is a nonprofit based in Connecticut that’s changing how low-income Americans afford fresh, healthy food. Founded by chef Michel Nischan, it pioneered programs that double SNAP benefits (food stamps) at farmers markets and allow doctors to write produce “prescriptions” for patients with diet-related illnesses—programs that can also expand to grocery stores and online platforms.

These ideas grew into national policy. Congress created new Farm Bill programs—like GusNIP—based on Wholesome Wave’s proven success. Today, millions of families and individuals get extra spending power for fruits and vegetables, and hospitals can fight chronic disease with healthier diets, not just medicine.

This matters on a massive scale. When healthy food becomes affordable, people’s health improves, medical costs drop, and small farms thrive. By bridging policy, healthcare, and local communities, Wholesome Wave changes the entire food system—making it fairer, healthier, and more sustainable for everyone.

Wholesome Wave has shown it can adapt beyond farmers markets—into big grocery retailers and online shopping, where many families already buy their groceries—so they can still benefit from cost-saving incentives even if they can’t reach local markets. Right now, Wholesome Wave’s annual budget is around $8–$12 million, but fully scaling its programs nationwide requires far more support—potentially unlocking billions in public investment so every SNAP household and medical provider can use these life-changing incentives.