New greenhouse powers CHC’s Food is Medicine program, growing thousands of pounds of fresh produce a year as families face cuts to federal food assistance
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (October 10, 2026) — Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) today opened its new urban greenhouse on its Middletown campus. CHC CEO and Founder Mark Masselli was joined by state officials, local elected leaders, community members and statewide partners for the ribbon cutting.
The 2400 square foot greenhouse will grow fresh produce for distribution to families in need of nutritious food, including those who have recently lost SNAP benefits. As of July 2026, 35,000 Connecticut residents have lost SNAP benefits following the signing of H.R.1 in July 2025. Food is Medicine helps fill part of that gap for the families CHC serves.
“People ask me why a health center is growing food. My question is, why wouldn’t we?” said Mark Masselli, CEO and Founder of Community Health Center, Inc. “You can write a patient all the prescriptions you want. If they can’t get a fresh vegetable, their health is going to suffer. So we said, let’s grow it ourselves and get it to them. That’s the heart of our 54-year old organization that still functions like a startup.”
“This is going to change people’s lives, family by family, all across Connecticut,” Masselli added. “I can’t wait to see it come to life, and I hope other health centers come out here, kick the tires and go do it themselves. That’s how good work spreads.”
Produce will reach families beyond Middletown initially through food pantries and soup kitchens.
The greenhouse was built with support from CHC, the State of Connecticut’s Community Investment Fund, and congressional earmarks.
Built for moments like this
The launch of the Food is Medicine program is the latest chapter in a long habit: when a community need appears, CHC builds the answer. CHC started in Middletown in 1972 and launched the nation’s first postgraduate residency for nurse practitioners in 2007. That model has since spread across the country.
When COVID-19 hit, CHC helped stand up the state’s mass testing and vaccine facilities. Its teams tested and vaccinated more than one million people. Today, CHC and its parent organization, Moses/Weitzman Health System, is carrying the same across the state with Food is Medicine: meet people where they are, with what they actually need.
Community Health Center, Inc. is Connecticut’s largest health care provider for underserved communities, serving 150,000 patients at 180 locations across the state. CHC is part of Moses/Weitzman Health System, which also includes the Weitzman Institute, the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers, the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement, and the Community eConsult Network, Inc. Learn more at https://www.mwhs1.com.
Event & Media Resources
Today’s remarks, ribbon cutting, photos, and b-roll of the greenhouse, including a time-lapse of construction, can be downloaded below. They are available for media use and can be attributed to Community Health Center, Inc.
Speaker remarks & transcript, including ribbon cutting
Construction timelapse video
MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Gianelli, [email protected]