In an effort to encourage healthy eating practices, a UW Health hospital in Madison, Wis., slashed cafeteria salad bar prices and introduced locally sourced produce — with big results, reports Fox28.
At the start of the year, University Hospital reduced the price of its cafeteria salad bar by nearly 50 percent, from $8.00 a pound to $4.99 a pound.
Within the first month of 2016, the hospital reported an increase of nearly 5,000 salad sales above their previous monthly figures, according to the hospital's website. Sales increased from 13,479 sales in December 2015 to 18,302 sales in January 2016.
"We are committed to making the healthy choice the easy and more affordable choice," said UW Health CEO Ellen Ritter in an official statement. "We've heard great feedback about the lettuce and the price decrease has incentivized more people to choose the salad bar."
The hospital plans to expand its relationship with local farmers, hoping to locally source all green leaf produce by next month, according to their website.
More articles on population health:
Which states have the best and worst preventive care?
Charleston Area Medical Center faces criticism for not actively supporting tobacco tax hike
Protesters call on Florida hospital to cut ties with McDonald's