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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition

Optimizing Access to Fruits and Vegetables in Rural Communities: A Decision-Making Model for the Placement of Produce Markets
Examines fruits and vegetables (FV) access in rural communities and the systems that support FV markets. Analyzes policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change interventions in a rural Texas community and the impact on driving distance to FV markets, service capacity, and financial resources of the community. Discusses the effect of 27 different interventions, provides related data, and includes suggestions on how PSE changes can support improved nutrition.
Author(s): Eduardo Pérez, Cassandra M. Johnson, Yan Li, José A. Pagán
Citation: PLoS One, 20(9), e0331545
Date: 09/2025
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Co-Creating Non-Congregate Summer Meals: Engaging Your Community to Design Your Program
Examines collaborative processes to create successful non-congregate summer meal programs in rural communities. Discusses a pilot program in Florida and offers suggestions related to meal sites, activities for children, caregiver appreciation, and more.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Food Insecurity and Rural Child and Family Functioning
Results of a study of 61 child caregivers in rural food-insecure households in the northeastern United States, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Features demographics and statistics on association of daily variation in food insecurity with child mental health problems.
Author(s): Merelise R. Ametti, Hannah E. Frering, Kierian Huang, Katya Marsh, Robert R. Althoff
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(9), e2530691
Date: 09/2025
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The Impact of Nutrition Training Programs on Knowledge, Confidence, and Behavioral Intention Among School Nutrition Professionals
Examines training programs for rural school nutrition professionals (SNPs) that include flexible scheduling and considerations related to staff and resource shortages. Utilizes observational data and pre- and post-training evaluations to analyze SNP knowledge and confidence to implement new culinary behaviors after the virtual and in-person flexible training format.
Author(s): Wenhao Zhang, Brianna Routh, Molly Stenberg, Haley Scott
Citation: Journal of School Health
Date: 08/2025
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Building Healthier Rural Communities: Economic Development Districts Address Social Determinants of Health
Report outlining social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural areas and how Economic Development Districts (EDD) address them. Highlights workforce, infrastructure, food security, health, disaster preparedness, funding, data, and public-private partnerships. Includes a case study from an EDD in North Carolina and highlights the role of hospitals in the community.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Economic Development District Community of Practice, National Association of Development Organizations
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Arizona Tribal Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment
Reports on maternal and child health needs for the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population in Arizona, including health indicator and community survey data on topics such as mental health, education, nutrition, public health communication, and more. Discusses tribal health topics throughout, with additional rural-specific data presented on pages 14-19.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, American Indian Research Center for Health
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The 2025 State of Poverty in Ohio Report
Provides information on poverty in Ohio, with a focus on pharmacy, food, and additional healthcare/human services deserts. Includes county-level information on individual and family poverty rates, food insecurity, insurance status, housing, and more.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
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Summer Food for Children: An Overview of Federal Aid
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Exploring a Food Is Medicine Pilot Program to Improve Dietary Quality among Rural Perinatal Patients
Examines the implementation of Food is Medicine (FIM) approaches in rural areas to improve food access and perinatal health outcomes. Analyzes qualitative data from 31 participants regarding FIM supports, dietary quality, self-reported health outcomes, and potential food security barriers.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Taralyn Bielaski, Chelsey R. Canavan
Citation: BMC Nutrition, 11, 152
Date: 07/2025
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Quickstart Roadmap for a Solo Tele-Nutrition Practice
Guide outlining steps to setting up a solo tele-nutrition practice. Discusses technology selection, workflow design, and patient engagement.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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