Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition
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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Community Voices from North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots Program: Implications for Designing and Evaluating Programs to Address Upstream Drivers of Health
Describes experiences of participants in North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, including enrollees, care managers, and staff at community-based organizations. The program tested impacts of providing services to eligible Medicaid members to address upstream drivers of health in 3 predominantly rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Alida Austin, Katie Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody Kinsley, Rebecca Whitaker
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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Describes experiences of participants in North Carolina's Healthy Opportunities Pilots program, including enrollees, care managers, and staff at community-based organizations. The program tested impacts of providing services to eligible Medicaid members to address upstream drivers of health in 3 predominantly rural regions of the state.
Author(s): Alida Austin, Katie Huber, Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Kody Kinsley, Rebecca Whitaker
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Milbank Memorial Fund
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Food Service Directors' Knowledge and Beliefs About Ultraprocessed Foods in California's San Joaquin Valley Schools
Examines food service director (FSD) perspectives on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) while planning meals for schools in the largely rural San Joaquin Valley of California. Utilizes interview data from 20 FSDs and discusses themes such as healthfulness of UPFs, scratch-cooked foods versus UPFs, and reasons for including or not including UPFs in school menus.
Author(s): Anjali Gupta, Alix Zuceth Duran Gomez, Donna Matheson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Examines food service director (FSD) perspectives on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) while planning meals for schools in the largely rural San Joaquin Valley of California. Utilizes interview data from 20 FSDs and discusses themes such as healthfulness of UPFs, scratch-cooked foods versus UPFs, and reasons for including or not including UPFs in school menus.
Author(s): Anjali Gupta, Alix Zuceth Duran Gomez, Donna Matheson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Access to WIC-Authorized Vendors and High-Speed Internet Services in Urban and Rural Areas
Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Non-Congregate Meal Service in the USDA Summer Meal Programs, 2023 to 2024
Examines non-congregate summer meal service in rural areas from 2023 to 2024. Provides data on non-congregate meal service sites and organizations sponsoring non-congregate meal service sites.
Author(s): Susannah Barr
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Examines non-congregate summer meal service in rural areas from 2023 to 2024. Provides data on non-congregate meal service sites and organizations sponsoring non-congregate meal service sites.
Author(s): Susannah Barr
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Food Banks in the United States: Systems, USDA Programs, and Participation
Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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