Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Online Pilot Grocery Intervention Among Rural and Urban Residents Aimed to Improve Purchasing Habits
Results of a study comparing food purchase choices of 129 rural and urban adults in 7 counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina who shopped at online or brick-and-mortar stores during an 8-week-long intervention in the fall of 2021. Features statistics including intervention effect of fruit and vegetable purchases during the study as well as demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 871
Date: 01/2022
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Results of a study comparing food purchase choices of 129 rural and urban adults in 7 counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina who shopped at online or brick-and-mortar stores during an 8-week-long intervention in the fall of 2021. Features statistics including intervention effect of fruit and vegetable purchases during the study as well as demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 871
Date: 01/2022
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Reimagining Hunger Responses in Times of Crisis: Insights from Case Examples and a Survey of Native Communities' Food Access During COVID-19
Report examining food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic based on 504 food access survey responses. Discusses food insecurity rates in relation to respondent characteristics, resiliency of Native producers and food economies, and policy recommendations to address food access issues.
Author(s): Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, Sandy Martini, Geri Henchy, et al.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Food Research & Action Center, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Native American Agriculture Fund
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Report examining food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic based on 504 food access survey responses. Discusses food insecurity rates in relation to respondent characteristics, resiliency of Native producers and food economies, and policy recommendations to address food access issues.
Author(s): Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, Sandy Martini, Geri Henchy, et al.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Food Research & Action Center, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Native American Agriculture Fund
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Quantifying the Food and Physical Activity Environments in Rural, High Obesity Communities
Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
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Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
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U.S. Population Subgroups See Changes in Food Insecurity from 2019 to 2020 While Overall Rate Remains the Same
Chart comparing 2019 and 2020 data on the prevalence of food insecurity broken down by household composition, race/ethnicity, household income-to-poverty ratio, metro and nonmetro residence, and geographic region based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart comparing 2019 and 2020 data on the prevalence of food insecurity broken down by household composition, race/ethnicity, household income-to-poverty ratio, metro and nonmetro residence, and geographic region based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Contributed to Rural Economic Output, Jobs Following the Great Recession
Reports on the economic impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in rural areas from 2009-2014 based on data from the USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Discusses job creation, household spending, and food-sector investments.
Author(s): Cristina Miller, Katherine Ralston, Stephen Vogel
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on the economic impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in rural areas from 2009-2014 based on data from the USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Discusses job creation, household spending, and food-sector investments.
Author(s): Cristina Miller, Katherine Ralston, Stephen Vogel
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Rural Counties Losing Share of Grocery Stores, Gaining Other Types of Food Retailers
Reports on changes in the rural food retail landscape in the 48 contiguous states from 1990 to 2015 using National Establishment Time Series data. Describes the distribution of different types of stores in nonmetro counties, including single-location grocery stores, chain stores, and dollar stores.
Author(s): Alexander Stevens
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on changes in the rural food retail landscape in the 48 contiguous states from 1990 to 2015 using National Establishment Time Series data. Describes the distribution of different types of stores in nonmetro counties, including single-location grocery stores, chain stores, and dollar stores.
Author(s): Alexander Stevens
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Rural Counties Losing All Types of Grocery Stores Except National Chains
Line chart showing the change in numbers and types of grocery stores in rural counties between 1990 and 2015, representing national chains, regional chains, local chains, and single location retailers.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Line chart showing the change in numbers and types of grocery stores in rural counties between 1990 and 2015, representing national chains, regional chains, local chains, and single location retailers.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Evaluation of the Implementation of Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI): Final Report
Summarizes findings from the process evaluation examining Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) program models. Includes information about the amount of incentives issued and redeemed at FINI retailers, and characteristics of the retailers involved in the grant program, including statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Tracy Vericker, Sujata Dixit-Joshi, Lindsay Giesen, et al.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Summarizes findings from the process evaluation examining Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) program models. Includes information about the amount of incentives issued and redeemed at FINI retailers, and characteristics of the retailers involved in the grant program, including statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Tracy Vericker, Sujata Dixit-Joshi, Lindsay Giesen, et al.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Consistent SNAP Participation Increases Preventative Health Care Visits for Infants
Examines the connection between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and preventive care in an infant's first year of life. Uses data from a survey covering 51,551 first-born children of low-income mothers, ages 18 and older, who participated in SNAP and Medicaid in Missouri between 2006-2014. Features statistics including urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Colleen Heflin, Irma Arteaga, Julia Stafford
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Aging and Policy Studies, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
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Examines the connection between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and preventive care in an infant's first year of life. Uses data from a survey covering 51,551 first-born children of low-income mothers, ages 18 and older, who participated in SNAP and Medicaid in Missouri between 2006-2014. Features statistics including urban or rural residence.
Author(s): Colleen Heflin, Irma Arteaga, Julia Stafford
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Aging and Policy Studies, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
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Persistent Gaps in SNAP Benefit Adequacy across the Rural-Urban Continuum
Report examining gaps in the adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cover the cost of a meal across the rural-urban continuum using the USDA's Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs). Discusses characteristics of the counties with the largest gaps and addresses the policy implications of the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) update to SNAP.
Author(s): Olivia Fiol, Elaine Waxman, Craig Gunderson
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Report examining gaps in the adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to cover the cost of a meal across the rural-urban continuum using the USDA's Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs). Discusses characteristics of the counties with the largest gaps and addresses the policy implications of the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) update to SNAP.
Author(s): Olivia Fiol, Elaine Waxman, Craig Gunderson
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Last Updated: 11/28/2025