Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
The State of Nutrition in America 2021
Video of testimony presented to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry on Nov. 2, 2021. Discusses nutrition insecurity, nutrition-related health disparities, and diet-related disease, including ways in which this affects those who are low-income, rural, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and other racial or ethnic minorities. Includes links for transcripts.
Additional links: Testimony by Angela Odoms-Young, Cornell University, Testimony by Angela Rachidi, American Enterprise Institute, Testimony by Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts School of Medicine, Testimony by Donald Warne, University of North Dakota, Testimony by Patrick Stover, Texas A&M University
Author(s): Dariush Mozaffarian, Angela Odoms-Young, Donald Warne, Patrick Stover, Angela Rachidi
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
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Video of testimony presented to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry on Nov. 2, 2021. Discusses nutrition insecurity, nutrition-related health disparities, and diet-related disease, including ways in which this affects those who are low-income, rural, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and other racial or ethnic minorities. Includes links for transcripts.
Additional links: Testimony by Angela Odoms-Young, Cornell University, Testimony by Angela Rachidi, American Enterprise Institute, Testimony by Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts School of Medicine, Testimony by Donald Warne, University of North Dakota, Testimony by Patrick Stover, Texas A&M University
Author(s): Dariush Mozaffarian, Angela Odoms-Young, Donald Warne, Patrick Stover, Angela Rachidi
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry
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Rural Communities Leading the Way: Introducing Local Foods to Meal Service
Discusses how 3 rural communities utilize local food procurement strategies to provide for school meals. Includes approaches to overcome food insecurity, invest in local food economies, and provide educational opportunities for students related to agriculture and science.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Discusses how 3 rural communities utilize local food procurement strategies to provide for school meals. Includes approaches to overcome food insecurity, invest in local food economies, and provide educational opportunities for students related to agriculture and science.
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Longitudinal Analysis of Neighborhood Food Environment and Diabetes Risk in the Veterans Administration Diabetes Risk Cohort
Results of a study examining the association between neighborhood food environment and risk of type 2 diabetes across communities, with breakdowns by high-density urban, low-density urban, suburban, and rural locations. Features statistics including characteristics of the diabetes risk cohort, and incidence of type 2 diabetes by demographic characteristics, overall and by community type.
Author(s): Rania Kanchi, Priscilla Lopez, Pasquale E. Rummo, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(10)
Date: 10/2021
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Results of a study examining the association between neighborhood food environment and risk of type 2 diabetes across communities, with breakdowns by high-density urban, low-density urban, suburban, and rural locations. Features statistics including characteristics of the diabetes risk cohort, and incidence of type 2 diabetes by demographic characteristics, overall and by community type.
Author(s): Rania Kanchi, Priscilla Lopez, Pasquale E. Rummo, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(10)
Date: 10/2021
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Impact of USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on Rural and Urban Economies in the Aftermath of the Great Recession
Reports on the effects of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit spending on employment, output, and household incomes between 2009-2014. Describes the different impacts of SNAP benefit outlays on urban and rural economies.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Stephen Vogel, Cristina Miller, Katherine Ralston
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on the effects of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit spending on employment, output, and household incomes between 2009-2014. Describes the different impacts of SNAP benefit outlays on urban and rural economies.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Stephen Vogel, Cristina Miller, Katherine Ralston
Date: 10/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examining Child Food Insecurity in Rural America
A recorded webinar that discusses challenges and barriers related to child food security in rural areas, with a focus on the impact of COVID-19, data exhibiting child food needs, and policy that can help close food access gaps. Transcript available below description.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses challenges and barriers related to child food security in rural areas, with a focus on the impact of COVID-19, data exhibiting child food needs, and policy that can help close food access gaps. Transcript available below description.
Date: 07/2021
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Super Stores' Impact on the Availability of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Approved Stores
Examines the effect of new super stores on the survival of existing traditional stores and the cost savings accruing to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. Features statistics including SNAP redemptions and share of redemptions by store type from 1992–2017, and impact of super store entry on the number of SNAP-approved stores with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Michael Ollinger, Michele Ver Ploeg, Chris Dicken
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the effect of new super stores on the survival of existing traditional stores and the cost savings accruing to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. Features statistics including SNAP redemptions and share of redemptions by store type from 1992–2017, and impact of super store entry on the number of SNAP-approved stores with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Michael Ollinger, Michele Ver Ploeg, Chris Dicken
Date: 06/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Hunger and the Local Economy: Integrated State-Level Approaches to Food Access
Describes food insecurity challenges in rural America. Explores state policy options to improve food access such as food bucks, food procurement reforms, farm to school programs, cooperative development tax incentives, farmers markets, establishing food hubs, and supporting small grocers. Offers policy recommendations to increase access to healthy food and address food insecurity in rural communities.
Author(s): Nathan Beacom
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Describes food insecurity challenges in rural America. Explores state policy options to improve food access such as food bucks, food procurement reforms, farm to school programs, cooperative development tax incentives, farmers markets, establishing food hubs, and supporting small grocers. Offers policy recommendations to increase access to healthy food and address food insecurity in rural communities.
Author(s): Nathan Beacom
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Measuring Effects of Extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits on Child Food Security in Low-Income Families in Rural Kentucky
Results of a study to determine whether the Ticket to Healthy Food (TTHF) program would reduce child food insecurity among rural, low-income Kentucky households. Features statistics on 1,623 TTHF households, including demographics and food security status before and after the intervention.
Author(s): Gregory J. Chojnacki, Andrew G. Gothro, Philip M. Gleason, Sarah G. Forrestal
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121(1), Supplement, S9-S21
Date: 01/2021
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Results of a study to determine whether the Ticket to Healthy Food (TTHF) program would reduce child food insecurity among rural, low-income Kentucky households. Features statistics on 1,623 TTHF households, including demographics and food security status before and after the intervention.
Author(s): Gregory J. Chojnacki, Andrew G. Gothro, Philip M. Gleason, Sarah G. Forrestal
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121(1), Supplement, S9-S21
Date: 01/2021
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A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home-Delivered Food Box on Food Security in Chickasaw Nation
Presents a study evaluating a free school meal program in 12 rural Oklahoma counties within the Chickasaw Nation from 2016 to 2018. Breaks down data by household income, children in household, and age of children, among other measures.
Author(s): Ronette R. Briefel, Gregory J. Chojnacki, Vivian Gabor, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121(1), S46-S58
Date: 01/2021
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Presents a study evaluating a free school meal program in 12 rural Oklahoma counties within the Chickasaw Nation from 2016 to 2018. Breaks down data by household income, children in household, and age of children, among other measures.
Author(s): Ronette R. Briefel, Gregory J. Chojnacki, Vivian Gabor, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121(1), S46-S58
Date: 01/2021
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Lakewood Engage Tackles Food Insecurity in Rural Minnesota
Features a community-based program in rural Minnesota that addresses food insecurity through multiple initiatives, including distribution of fresh produce through a food "prescription" program, home delivery of meals to post-acute care patients and those in COVID-19 quarantine, and a farmers market.
Author(s): Kathryn Rutz
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features a community-based program in rural Minnesota that addresses food insecurity through multiple initiatives, including distribution of fresh produce through a food "prescription" program, home delivery of meals to post-acute care patients and those in COVID-19 quarantine, and a farmers market.
Author(s): Kathryn Rutz
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Last Updated: 12/19/2025