Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition
WIC & FMNP Modernization Evaluation Annual Report - 2025
Examines Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) activities and experiences from September 2025 to February 2026. Focuses on modernization of technology, service delivery, and the shopping experience, improving access to farmers' markets, developing workforce, and conducting effective outreach and enrollment. Includes commentary on program strategies specific to rural areas.
Author(s): H. Zaveri, K. Bodenlos, R. Brooks, et al.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Examines Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) activities and experiences from September 2025 to February 2026. Focuses on modernization of technology, service delivery, and the shopping experience, improving access to farmers' markets, developing workforce, and conducting effective outreach and enrollment. Includes commentary on program strategies specific to rural areas.
Author(s): H. Zaveri, K. Bodenlos, R. Brooks, et al.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Local Food Procurement Pathways: Key Drivers of Farm to School Participating Authorities Buying Directly From Farmers
Examines the factors impacting school food authorities' (SFAs) decisions when procuring local foods through Farm to School (F2S) programs. Analyzes trends in F2S procurement from 2018 to 2023, local food infrastructure, and SFA funding, sourcing, procuring, and serving of local foods. Includes supply chain data, use of local vendors, and procurement characteristics by SFA size and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): D. Adeline Yeh, Ashley Spalding, Christine Sauer, et al.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the factors impacting school food authorities' (SFAs) decisions when procuring local foods through Farm to School (F2S) programs. Analyzes trends in F2S procurement from 2018 to 2023, local food infrastructure, and SFA funding, sourcing, procuring, and serving of local foods. Includes supply chain data, use of local vendors, and procurement characteristics by SFA size and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): D. Adeline Yeh, Ashley Spalding, Christine Sauer, et al.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Housing and Food Security in the North Central Region: Evidence from the 2026 NCR-Stat Survey
A recorded webinar that highlights findings from the 2026 NCR-Stat: Housing and Food Security Survey, focusing on housing conditions and cost, food access and security, and household demographics. Discusses rural throughout. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Samuel Mindes
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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A recorded webinar that highlights findings from the 2026 NCR-Stat: Housing and Food Security Survey, focusing on housing conditions and cost, food access and security, and household demographics. Discusses rural throughout. Transcript available below description.
Author(s): Samuel Mindes
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Evaluating the Impact of the Ripe for Revival Mobile Market with Vouchers on Food and Nutrition Security, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Blood Pressure in Rural Eastern North Carolina: A Quasi-Experimental Trial Design Study Protocol
Outlines a study protocol that focuses on the impact of produce vouchers to improve fruit and vegetable intake and health status in rural North Carolina residents. Discusses participant eligibility and recruitment, data collection, and study measures and assessments.
Author(s): Basheerah Enahora, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(8), e114071
Date: 08/2026
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Outlines a study protocol that focuses on the impact of produce vouchers to improve fruit and vegetable intake and health status in rural North Carolina residents. Discusses participant eligibility and recruitment, data collection, and study measures and assessments.
Author(s): Basheerah Enahora, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: BMJ Open, 16(8), e114071
Date: 08/2026
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Impact of School Rurality on Fruit and Vegetable Selection Differs by Sex and Eating Duration for Arizona Schools
Analyzes how fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste vary by rurality, sex, and eating duration in Arizona schools. Uses data collected in Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools between 2017 and 2019.
Author(s): Mary Curnutte, Alaina L. Pearce, Marc Adams, Traci Grgich, Meg Bruening
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70208
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes how fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste vary by rurality, sex, and eating duration in Arizona schools. Uses data collected in Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools between 2017 and 2019.
Author(s): Mary Curnutte, Alaina L. Pearce, Marc Adams, Traci Grgich, Meg Bruening
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70208
Date: 08/2026
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Map the Meal Gap 2026: A Report on Local Food Insecurity and Food Cost in the United States in 2024
Provides information on food insecurity in the United States, with a focus on impacts for various demographic populations, food spending and prices, and policy and program implications. Includes a county-level U.S. map showing food insecurity for the overall U.S. population as well as data breakdowns according to geographical region and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Technical Brief
Author(s): A. Dewey, S. Dawes, J. Hilvers, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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Provides information on food insecurity in the United States, with a focus on impacts for various demographic populations, food spending and prices, and policy and program implications. Includes a county-level U.S. map showing food insecurity for the overall U.S. population as well as data breakdowns according to geographical region and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Technical Brief
Author(s): A. Dewey, S. Dawes, J. Hilvers, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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MauiWES Community Report - The Road to Recovery: Strengthening Health, Stability, and Resiliency Three Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on recovery and continued challenges in Maui after the August 2023 wildfires in Hawaii, including data from the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) on physical and emotional health, housing, employment, food security, access to healthcare and other services, and other aspects of wellness among wildfire survivors. Dashboard provides results from the study in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Chris Knightsbridge, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: UHERO: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Evaluation of the 2021–2024 Implementation of the Fresh Start Enhanced Food Is Medicine Intervention Among Rural, Underinsured People With Type 2 Diabetes
Examines the impact of the Fresh Start produce prescription (FSPRx) intervention in rural North Carolina among a medically underinsured population with type 2 diabetes. Utilizes program, survey, and interview data from FSPRx participants to analyze feasibility and acceptability of the program, with pre- and post-intervention data breakdowns according to dietary patterns, food literacy, health outcomes, and more.
Author(s): Lauren R. Sastre, Brandon Stroud, Raven Breinholt, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of the Fresh Start produce prescription (FSPRx) intervention in rural North Carolina among a medically underinsured population with type 2 diabetes. Utilizes program, survey, and interview data from FSPRx participants to analyze feasibility and acceptability of the program, with pre- and post-intervention data breakdowns according to dietary patterns, food literacy, health outcomes, and more.
Author(s): Lauren R. Sastre, Brandon Stroud, Raven Breinholt, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Food and Health: Time Spent Eating, Acquiring Food, Preparing Meals, and Being Physically Active Among U.S. Adults, 2022-2023
Reports on time spent eating, acquiring food, preparing meals, and physical activity among adults using 2022-2023 American Time Use Survey Eating and Health Module data. Includes data comparisons by metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan dwelling, among other demographic factors.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Eliana Zeballos, Brandon J. Restrepo
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on time spent eating, acquiring food, preparing meals, and physical activity among adults using 2022-2023 American Time Use Survey Eating and Health Module data. Includes data comparisons by metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan dwelling, among other demographic factors.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Eliana Zeballos, Brandon J. Restrepo
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Results from the Annual Survey of School Food Authorities, School Year 2024-2025
Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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