Black Doctor Purchases 250-Acre Farm to Feed His Community and Launches “Food Is Medicine” Program
#NOLAZINE - After spending more than 30 years treating patients with diabetes in Los Angeles County, Dr. Bill Releford realized that medicine alone wasn’t enough to improve the health of struggling communities. Many of his patients lacked access to fresh, nutritious food, inspiring him to take an unconventional approach to healthcare: becoming a farmer.
Dr. Releford purchased Bloom Ranch, a historic 250-acre farm in Acton, California, reportedly making it the largest Black-owned farm in Los Angeles County. Established in 1891, the property had been owned by the same family for five generations before Releford took over and began transforming it into a resource for underserved communities.
Taking his mission even further, he launched a “Food Is Medicine” program in collaboration with UCLA and Charles R. Drew University. The initiative provides fresh produce boxes tailored to patients’ nutritional needs, helping people manage diabetes and other diet-related health conditions.
For Dr. Releford, this mission goes beyond farming. It’s about fighting food insecurity, creating healthier communities, and proving that access to nutritious food can be just as important as access to medical care.
From treating patients in the doctor’s office to growing food on 250 acres, Dr. Releford is showing what happens when Black excellence meets community service.
Comments