Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Urban-Rural Variability in Infant Formula Availability and Product Variety in United States Counties from 2022 to 2024
Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
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Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
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Food Hardship and Nutrition Insecurity in Rural Areas with Access to Non-Congregate Summer Meals
Examines food insecurity, food hardship, and nutrition insecurity in rural communities with access to the 2025 non-congregate summer meals option (SUN Meals To-Go). Provides data on household food hardship by income levels, nutrition insecurity by income levels, and barriers to nutrition security.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, No Kid Hungry
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Examines food insecurity, food hardship, and nutrition insecurity in rural communities with access to the 2025 non-congregate summer meals option (SUN Meals To-Go). Provides data on household food hardship by income levels, nutrition insecurity by income levels, and barriers to nutrition security.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, No Kid Hungry
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Food Access and Mobility Toolkit
A toolkit that discusses the relationship between food security and mobility on health outcomes, focusing on older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income or rural populations who may have limited access to transportation. Provides strategies to improve mobility and food security, such as transportation and program integration, healthy food initiatives, federal funding braiding, connecting people with benefits to services, and more. Includes links to resources and program examples focused on rural areas.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center
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A toolkit that discusses the relationship between food security and mobility on health outcomes, focusing on older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income or rural populations who may have limited access to transportation. Provides strategies to improve mobility and food security, such as transportation and program integration, healthy food initiatives, federal funding braiding, connecting people with benefits to services, and more. Includes links to resources and program examples focused on rural areas.
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center
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Scaling Food Is Medicine Through Primary Care: Three Strategies for States
Examines strategies to connect Medicaid recipients to Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions through primary care providers. Discusses how strategies, such as investing in care coordination and partnering with community-based organizations, may be valuable in rural communities.
Author(s): Amanda Bank
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Examines strategies to connect Medicaid recipients to Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions through primary care providers. Discusses how strategies, such as investing in care coordination and partnering with community-based organizations, may be valuable in rural communities.
Author(s): Amanda Bank
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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Geographic and Environmental Differences in Associations Between Food Insecurity and Nutritional and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Pregnant Participants in the All of Us Research Program
Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
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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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Evaluating the Impact of a Multi-Year Produce Prescription Program on Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Food Security in South Central New York
Examines the impact of a produce prescription (PRx) program focused on low-income residents with diet-related chronic diseases and living in rural New York counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 survey data from participants to analyze changes in fruit and vegetable intake, food security, health, and diet quality before and after engagement with the PRx program.
Author(s): Therese Martin Cheteu Wabo, Kate Miller-Corcoran, Erin Summerlee, Genevive R. Meredith
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 23, 101
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the impact of a produce prescription (PRx) program focused on low-income residents with diet-related chronic diseases and living in rural New York counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 survey data from participants to analyze changes in fruit and vegetable intake, food security, health, and diet quality before and after engagement with the PRx program.
Author(s): Therese Martin Cheteu Wabo, Kate Miller-Corcoran, Erin Summerlee, Genevive R. Meredith
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 23, 101
Date: 07/2026
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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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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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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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