Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Income, Healthy Food Availability, and Consumption Mediate Rural–Urban Health Disparities
Discusses rural versus urban health disparities and how healthy food availability and consumption mediate disparities. Utilizes national and state-level survey data from Oregon residents regarding their self-reported income, perceived fruit and vegetable (FV) availability, FV consumption, and health status, analyzing their associated mediating effect on rural health disparities.
Author(s): Benjamin J Smith, A Janet Tomiyama, Deborah H John, Bryan Mantell, Elliot T Berkman
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(6), 939-952
Date: 08/2025
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Discusses rural versus urban health disparities and how healthy food availability and consumption mediate disparities. Utilizes national and state-level survey data from Oregon residents regarding their self-reported income, perceived fruit and vegetable (FV) availability, FV consumption, and health status, analyzing their associated mediating effect on rural health disparities.
Author(s): Benjamin J Smith, A Janet Tomiyama, Deborah H John, Bryan Mantell, Elliot T Berkman
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(6), 939-952
Date: 08/2025
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The Impact of Nutrition Training Programs on Knowledge, Confidence, and Behavioral Intention Among School Nutrition Professionals
Examines training programs for rural school nutrition professionals (SNPs) that include flexible scheduling and considerations related to staff and resource shortages. Utilizes observational data and pre- and post-training evaluations to analyze SNP knowledge and confidence to implement new culinary behaviors after the virtual and in-person flexible training format.
Author(s): Wenhao Zhang, Brianna Routh, Molly Stenberg, Haley Scott
Citation: Journal of School Health, 95(11), 924-932
Date: 08/2025
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Examines training programs for rural school nutrition professionals (SNPs) that include flexible scheduling and considerations related to staff and resource shortages. Utilizes observational data and pre- and post-training evaluations to analyze SNP knowledge and confidence to implement new culinary behaviors after the virtual and in-person flexible training format.
Author(s): Wenhao Zhang, Brianna Routh, Molly Stenberg, Haley Scott
Citation: Journal of School Health, 95(11), 924-932
Date: 08/2025
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Supporting Resilient Food Systems: Navigating Challenges in U.S. Rural Communities
Examines the resiliency of rural food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes interview data from 38 community members representing services in education, food, healthcare, family services, and the Cooperative Extension System who have connections to the food system. Explores how rural communities navigated partnerships, supports, pandemic challenges, and organizational issues to promote food sustainability.
Author(s): Brianna Routh, Yoshie Sano, Leah Pylate, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the resiliency of rural food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes interview data from 38 community members representing services in education, food, healthcare, family services, and the Cooperative Extension System who have connections to the food system. Explores how rural communities navigated partnerships, supports, pandemic challenges, and organizational issues to promote food sustainability.
Author(s): Brianna Routh, Yoshie Sano, Leah Pylate, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development
Date: 07/2025
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Exploring a Food Is Medicine Pilot Program to Improve Dietary Quality among Rural Perinatal Patients
Examines the implementation of Food is Medicine (FIM) approaches in rural areas to improve food access and perinatal health outcomes. Analyzes qualitative data from 31 participants regarding FIM supports, dietary quality, self-reported health outcomes, and potential food security barriers.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Taralyn Bielaski, Chelsey R. Canavan
Citation: BMC Nutrition, 11, 152
Date: 07/2025
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Examines the implementation of Food is Medicine (FIM) approaches in rural areas to improve food access and perinatal health outcomes. Analyzes qualitative data from 31 participants regarding FIM supports, dietary quality, self-reported health outcomes, and potential food security barriers.
Author(s): Sophia E. Allen, Taralyn Bielaski, Chelsey R. Canavan
Citation: BMC Nutrition, 11, 152
Date: 07/2025
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Summer Food for Children: An Overview of Federal Aid
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Highlights changes to the SFSP made in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, including the permanent authorization of the nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) Program for Children, and allowing Seamless Summer Option (SSO) sponsors to provide meals for off-site consumption to children in rural areas without access to congregate meal sites.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Program Impact Report: Healthy Families Produce Rx Program
Examines Healthy Families Produce Rx, a produce prescription program in rural Louisiana focused on reducing food insecurity and increasing access to fresh produce. Provides data on program and participant characteristics as well the impact on food security and participant health.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Examines Healthy Families Produce Rx, a produce prescription program in rural Louisiana focused on reducing food insecurity and increasing access to fresh produce. Provides data on program and participant characteristics as well the impact on food security and participant health.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Closing the Food Access Gap in Rural Mississippi: Evaluation of the Grocery Online Ordering Distribution Service (GOODS) Program Using an Assets-Based Framework
Examines the impact of the Grocery Online Ordering Distribution Service (GOODS) food program on nutritious food access in rural Mississippi. Includes data on participant characteristics, eating and shopping habits, and food purchases. Discusses program framework, design, and feedback from staff and participants.
Author(s): Ivonne Quiroz, Sara Evans Miller, Kevin Coogan, Nevin Cohen
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 14(3), 251–271
Date: 06/2025
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Examines the impact of the Grocery Online Ordering Distribution Service (GOODS) food program on nutritious food access in rural Mississippi. Includes data on participant characteristics, eating and shopping habits, and food purchases. Discusses program framework, design, and feedback from staff and participants.
Author(s): Ivonne Quiroz, Sara Evans Miller, Kevin Coogan, Nevin Cohen
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 14(3), 251–271
Date: 06/2025
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An Exploratory Study to Understand How Rurality Status and Demographic Characteristics Are Associated With Enrollment, Engagement, and Retention in a Digital Health Intervention Targeting the Appalachian Region
Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Explores how rural status is associated with enrollment, retention, and engagement in a digital health intervention aimed at reducing sugar-sweetened beverages in Appalachia. Breaks down data by rurality, sex, income, and education, among other measures.
Author(s): Donna‐Jean P. Brock, Lee M. Ritterband, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70042
Date: 06/2025
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Serving Beyond Summer School: Reaching More Kids with Rural Summer Meals
A recorded webinar that provides 3 program examples of non-congregate summer meal service in rural areas. Discusses program details such as operations, distribution, scheduling, menu, marketing, and overcoming challenges. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): Lucretia Hertzock, Heidi Ottaway, Megan Adams
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A recorded webinar that provides 3 program examples of non-congregate summer meal service in rural areas. Discusses program details such as operations, distribution, scheduling, menu, marketing, and overcoming challenges. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): Lucretia Hertzock, Heidi Ottaway, Megan Adams
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Map the Meal Gap 2025: A Report on Local Food Insecurity and Food Costs in the United States in 2023
Provides information on food insecurity in the United States, with a focus on impacts for variable demographic populations, food spending and prices, and policy and program implications. Includes data breakdowns according to geographical region and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Technical Appendix
Author(s): A. Dewey, J. Hilvers, S. Dawes, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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Provides information on food insecurity in the United States, with a focus on impacts for variable demographic populations, food spending and prices, and policy and program implications. Includes data breakdowns according to geographical region and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Technical Appendix
Author(s): A. Dewey, J. Hilvers, S. Dawes, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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