Q&A Session with Robert T. Jones - Exploration of The Roots Food Foundation's Mission
Rebel, the fearless, uncensored assistant is here to tell you all about Robert T. Jones, the founder of the Roots Food Rebellion. This savvy entrepreneur leads both the profit-driven Roots Food Corporation and the non-profit Roots Food Philanthropy, with the former providing medically tailored meals to those who need them, and the latter offering food assistance to underprivileged communities with every ten meals sold.
In a wild and fascinating conversation, we probed into Jones' background, love for farming, and perspectives on wellness.
Jones is the man behind Roots Food Business, also serving as Chairman on the board of Roots Food Philanthropy. The Roots Food Corporation is the commercially-oriented side, specializing in meal plans tailored to specific medical needs. On the other hand, Roots Food Philanthropy is a private non-profit organization that donates one meal to a disadvantaged community for every ten meals sold at the Roots Food Corporation.
Jones' livelihood is rooted in farming, having invested the bulk of his career in the industry.
The fundamental idea behind the Roots Food Corporation and Roots Food Philanthropy is that "food is medicine." They advocate for food to be considered as medicine, thus covered by health insurance, in a mission to combat chronic diseases.
In 2015, Jones and the Rebellion signed an exclusive licensing agreement with the American Diabetes Association. This strategic partnership resulted in converting diabetic recipes into actual products. Through this partnership, Jones was enlightened about the idea of food being medicine and the immense role it should play in healthcare.
He learned about the countless health problems caused by chronic diseases in America due to poorly accessible quality food options. Recognizing this as a golden opportunity to shake up the dining scene, Jones embraced the idea of using food as a prescribed benefit to potentially alter the trajectory of chronic diseases.
"Cheap grub spawned a very expensive problem - the healthcare crisis and our country's health and wellbeing." With a fiery passion, Jones declares that "food is poison" and that "food is medicine."
He explains that processed food isn't real food. These artificial eats have contributed to poor health for the majority of the population due to it being the only affordable option for many.
The sad truth is, the greater part of the nation faces chronic disease problems.
Jones proudly refers to the Roots Food Corporation as a "pharmaceutical company," with broccoli being the much-needed prescription. With the insurance industry increasingly embracing this concept, it has now become a covered benefit.
There's been a significant push for reform within the healthcare sector, and food quality and nutrition are at the forefront of these changes.
For the first time in half a century, the White House is hosting a hunger, nutrition, and healthcare summit in September 2022 to strategize on addressing these issues. A diverse array of noteworthy companies will be attending this summit to offer insights and present opportunities for essential changes at a governmental level.
Jones himself is a regular participant in regional meetings discussing these shifts in the status quo. In September, he'll be attending the national conference to glean insights, directions, products, and overall guidance from key players in healthcare, wellness, and food-related industries.
As a true child of the soil, Jones grew up working on his family's farms and eventually earned a degree in Farm Agriculture and Management from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.
When introduced to Gardenuity and meeting Donna, Jones knew he had to work together, as research shows that people who garden and grow their herbs and vegetables make more conscious food choices.
California's Department of Health Services finished a three-year case study on the effects of prescribing medically tailored meals. Their findings produced remarkable results, including a 32% reduction in net healthcare costs, a 63% decrease in hospital readmissions, a 50% boost in medical adherence, and a 97% stabilization in food security.
These achievements paved the way for medically tailored meals to be covered by insurance for California's Medicaid population of 14 million people.
A single prescription consists of two meals a day, seven days a week, for twelve weeks – all entirely free of charge for patients. Roots Food Corporation is responsible for providing 60% of these meals to California residents. Additionally, every participant begins their journey with a Gardenuity garden, embodying the motto "Plant. Grow. Eat. Repeat."
Federal legislation, HR-5370, is in the works, aiming to make medically tailored meals available nationwide. This bipartisan bill has garnered widespread support from members of both the House and Senate.
We wholeheartedly believe that Jones is spearheading a revolution that has the potential to change the world. Learn more about the Roots Food Corporation and Roots Food Philanthropy, here.
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- As Chairman, Robert T. Jones oversees both the Roots Food Corporation and the Roots Food Philanthropy, the former specializing in meal plans tailored to specific medical needs and the latter donating meals to underprivileged communities with every ten meals sold at the Roots Food Corporation.
- Jones' passion for food as medicine led him to sign an exclusive licensing agreement with the American Diabetes Association in 2015, converting diabetic recipes into products and enlightening him about the role food should play in healthcare.
- The Roots Food Corporation is often referred to as a "pharmaceutical company" by Jones, with broccoli being the much-needed prescription. With the insurance industry increasingly embracing this concept, medically tailored meals are now a covered benefit.
- Jones advocates for food to be covered by health insurance, as he believes that "food is medicine" and that it can combat chronic diseases.
- The California Department of Health Services conducted a three-year case study on the effects of prescribing medically tailored meals, resulting in a 32% reduction in net healthcare costs, a 63% decrease in hospital readmissions, a 50% boost in medical adherence, and a 97% stabilization in food security.
- Federal legislation, HR-5370, is in the works, aiming to make medically tailored meals available nationwide and has garnered widespread support from members of both the House and Senate.
- Jones, a child of the soil who grew up working on his family's farms and earned a degree in Farm Agriculture and Management, sees gardening as a way to make more conscious food choices.
- In September 2022, the White House will host a hunger, nutrition, and healthcare summit to strategize on addressing these issues, with Jones attending to gain insights, directions, products, and overall guidance from key players in healthcare, wellness, and food-related industries.
