Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Household Experiences with Federal Summer Nutrition Programs in 2025: Findings from National Caregiver Surveys of Summer EBT and Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals Participants and Nonparticipants
Provides information on household experiences with rural non-congregate summer nutrition programs and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBT). Utilizes 2025 national caregiver survey data and analyzes program participation, barriers to participation, household perceptions and experiences, perceived benefits, intentions for future participation among households with school-age children, and feedback from households in states that did not offer SEBT.
Additional links: Resource for Sponsors and Outreach Partners, Resource for State Agencies
Author(s): Tracy Vericker, Liana Washburn
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, No Kid Hungry
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Provides information on household experiences with rural non-congregate summer nutrition programs and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBT). Utilizes 2025 national caregiver survey data and analyzes program participation, barriers to participation, household perceptions and experiences, perceived benefits, intentions for future participation among households with school-age children, and feedback from households in states that did not offer SEBT.
Additional links: Resource for Sponsors and Outreach Partners, Resource for State Agencies
Author(s): Tracy Vericker, Liana Washburn
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Mathematica, No Kid Hungry
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Changes in Neighborhood Foodscapes From 2003 to 2023 by Area Rurality in the United States
Examines neighborhood-level characteristics of U.S. foodscapes. Utilizes 2003-2023 licensed food retailer data to analyze healthfulness of available food, food deserts, and food swamps, with data broken down by state and rurality.
Author(s): Daniel Wiese, Marissa M. Shams-White, Zhiyuan Zheng, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116
Date: 06/2026
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Examines neighborhood-level characteristics of U.S. foodscapes. Utilizes 2003-2023 licensed food retailer data to analyze healthfulness of available food, food deserts, and food swamps, with data broken down by state and rurality.
Author(s): Daniel Wiese, Marissa M. Shams-White, Zhiyuan Zheng, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 116
Date: 06/2026
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Research Brief: Supporting Indian Tribal Organizations To Expand Summer EBT Access
Analyzes Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) participation in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. Discusses the history of Summer EBT, ITOs and federal nutrition programs, inclusion of culturally relevant foods, and benefits and barriers of ITO participation in Summer EBT. Includes a U.S. map showing area where states and Tribes administer Summer EBT.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Analyzes Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) participation in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. Discusses the history of Summer EBT, ITOs and federal nutrition programs, inclusion of culturally relevant foods, and benefits and barriers of ITO participation in Summer EBT. Includes a U.S. map showing area where states and Tribes administer Summer EBT.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2024
Presents an overview of the SNAP Program eligibility requirements and benefit levels. Provides detailed tables showing comparisons in rural-urban areas. Coverage includes October 2023 through September 2024.
Author(s): Ben Ward, Mia Monkovic
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Presents an overview of the SNAP Program eligibility requirements and benefit levels. Provides detailed tables showing comparisons in rural-urban areas. Coverage includes October 2023 through September 2024.
Author(s): Ben Ward, Mia Monkovic
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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From Pickup to Porch: Best Practices for Diverse Rural Non-Congregate Meal Distribution
A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to successfully implement rural non-congregate (RNC) meal distribution programs. Provides RNC program examples focused on grab-and-go options, mobile meal routes, and home delivery across geographically dispersed areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): McKenzie Suitter, Lorinda El Aouita, Christy Lawson
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses strategies to successfully implement rural non-congregate (RNC) meal distribution programs. Provides RNC program examples focused on grab-and-go options, mobile meal routes, and home delivery across geographically dispersed areas. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): McKenzie Suitter, Lorinda El Aouita, Christy Lawson
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Reaching the Last Mile: Strategies for Serving Ultra-Rural Populations
A recorded webinar that discusses barriers when serving meals to ultra-rural and remote populations and provides related insights, strategies, and collaborative approaches to reach communities. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that discusses barriers when serving meals to ultra-rural and remote populations and provides related insights, strategies, and collaborative approaches to reach communities. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meals: How Sponsors Are Implementing This Option
A fact sheet that provides information on the implementation of the Rural Non-Congregate option as an expansion of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Includes spotlights of local programs and their various meal service and distribution methods, delivery options, and partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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A fact sheet that provides information on the implementation of the Rural Non-Congregate option as an expansion of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO). Includes spotlights of local programs and their various meal service and distribution methods, delivery options, and partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Food Research & Action Center
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Perspectives on Universal Free School Meals Among Rural Middle and High School Students: A Mixed-Methods Study
Examines perspectives on Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) among students living in rural Maine. Utilizes survey and interview data among middle and high school students to analyze student characteristics, meal preferences, and perceptions of school breakfasts and lunches.
Author(s): Ashley Kesack, Michele Polacsek, Alexis Schneider, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Citation: Nutrients, 18(3), 540
Date: 02/2026
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Examines perspectives on Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) among students living in rural Maine. Utilizes survey and interview data among middle and high school students to analyze student characteristics, meal preferences, and perceptions of school breakfasts and lunches.
Author(s): Ashley Kesack, Michele Polacsek, Alexis Schneider, Juliana F. W. Cohen
Citation: Nutrients, 18(3), 540
Date: 02/2026
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Transforming Rural Health: Strategies from the Field - Food Insecurity
A brief that provides an overview on food insecurity in rural areas. Discusses examples of rural-focused food programs and their strategies to create partnerships, enhance food access, and improve health outcomes.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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A brief that provides an overview on food insecurity in rural areas. Discusses examples of rural-focused food programs and their strategies to create partnerships, enhance food access, and improve health outcomes.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Prevalence of Food Insecurity, 2023 and 2024
Table and graph showing food insecurity by type of household. Includes data by place of residence for metro and nonmetro areas. Based on 2023 and 2024 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement data.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Table and graph showing food insecurity by type of household. Includes data by place of residence for metro and nonmetro areas. Based on 2023 and 2024 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement data.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for: