Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Not Enough Food on the Dinner Table: A Look into Food Insecurity among Hispanics/Latinos Living in Rural Communities in the United States
Discusses food insecurity among Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. and provides program and policy recommendations to improve food access. Reports on a 2022 needs assessment that includes a literature review, socio-demographic survey, focus group with rural Latino adults, and interviews with community-based organizations (CBOs). Offers strategies such as wellness and nutrition education, culturally sensitive engagement, and technology to improve access.
Author(s): Melawhy Garcia, Natalia Gatdula, Vanessa Torres, et al.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Latino Community Health Evaluation and Leadership Training, UnidosUS
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Discusses food insecurity among Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. and provides program and policy recommendations to improve food access. Reports on a 2022 needs assessment that includes a literature review, socio-demographic survey, focus group with rural Latino adults, and interviews with community-based organizations (CBOs). Offers strategies such as wellness and nutrition education, culturally sensitive engagement, and technology to improve access.
Author(s): Melawhy Garcia, Natalia Gatdula, Vanessa Torres, et al.
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Latino Community Health Evaluation and Leadership Training, UnidosUS
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A Disaggregated View of Market Concentration in the Food Retail Industry
Examines changes in food retailing market concentration at the national, state, Metropolitan Statistical Area, and county levels in the United States from 1990-2019, using data from the National Establishment Time Series dataset. Features statistics with breakdowns by metro, large nonmetro, small nonmetro, and rural areas.
Author(s): Eliana Zeballos, Xiao Dong, Ergys Islamaj
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines changes in food retailing market concentration at the national, state, Metropolitan Statistical Area, and county levels in the United States from 1990-2019, using data from the National Establishment Time Series dataset. Features statistics with breakdowns by metro, large nonmetro, small nonmetro, and rural areas.
Author(s): Eliana Zeballos, Xiao Dong, Ergys Islamaj
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nebraska's Eligibility Decision
Details the benefits and eligibility requirements of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Offers statistics and demographics on households participating in Nebraska's SNAP. Highlights the effect inflation and the higher cost of food has on low-income populations. Makes recommendations for policymakers to consider when evaluating eligibility limits that affect the availability of food and safeguard against hunger for low-income households.
Author(s): Derrik Conard
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Details the benefits and eligibility requirements of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Offers statistics and demographics on households participating in Nebraska's SNAP. Highlights the effect inflation and the higher cost of food has on low-income populations. Makes recommendations for policymakers to consider when evaluating eligibility limits that affect the availability of food and safeguard against hunger for low-income households.
Author(s): Derrik Conard
Date: 01/2023
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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No Kid Hungry 2023 Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit
A toolkit that provides sample communications in both English and Spanish for social media, flyers, postcards, and more to spread awareness about summer meal programs. Includes information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation guidance for non-congregate meal service in rural areas.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A toolkit that provides sample communications in both English and Spanish for social media, flyers, postcards, and more to spread awareness about summer meal programs. Includes information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation guidance for non-congregate meal service in rural areas.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Food Insecurity in the Rural United States: An Examination of Struggles and Coping Mechanisms to Feed a Family among Households with a Low-Income
Analyzes the barriers and strategies of low-income rural families around food insecurity. Reports on interviews with 153 primary grocery shoppers about their experiences related to affordability and adequacy of meals, difficulty in obtaining food and managing household food needs, and more. Includes demographic information about participants as well as selected quotes relating to their food insecurity experiences.
Author(s): Carmen Byker Shanks, Lauri Andress, Annie Hardison-Moody, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 14(24), 5250
Date: 12/2022
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Analyzes the barriers and strategies of low-income rural families around food insecurity. Reports on interviews with 153 primary grocery shoppers about their experiences related to affordability and adequacy of meals, difficulty in obtaining food and managing household food needs, and more. Includes demographic information about participants as well as selected quotes relating to their food insecurity experiences.
Author(s): Carmen Byker Shanks, Lauri Andress, Annie Hardison-Moody, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 14(24), 5250
Date: 12/2022
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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Living in Families That Were Food-Insecure in the Past 30 Days, by Family Income and Urbanicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021
Bar chart showing the percent of adults in food insecure families overall, in urban areas, and in rural areas, with breakdowns by income level for those under the federal poverty level (FPL), between 100-199% of the FPL, and 200% or more of the FPL.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(48), 1539
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Bar chart showing the percent of adults in food insecure families overall, in urban areas, and in rural areas, with breakdowns by income level for those under the federal poverty level (FPL), between 100-199% of the FPL, and 200% or more of the FPL.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(48), 1539
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Supporting Rural Grocery Stores Across the North Central Region
Webinar recording describing 3 programs that work to support rural grocery stores as locations for food security as well as community and economic vitality. Discusses programming and strategies to support rural groceries. Transcript available below description.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Webinar recording describing 3 programs that work to support rural grocery stores as locations for food security as well as community and economic vitality. Discusses programming and strategies to support rural groceries. Transcript available below description.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Informing the White House Conference: Ambitious, Actionable Recommendations to End Hunger, Advance Nutrition, and Improve Health in the United States
Provides food security and nutrition policy recommendations on issues such as federal nutrition programs, public health and nutrition education, healthcare, research and science, business and innovation, and federal coordination. Includes data on health disparities as they relate to food access. Rural considerations throughout the report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Food Systems for the Future, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tufts University: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, World Central Kitchen
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Provides food security and nutrition policy recommendations on issues such as federal nutrition programs, public health and nutrition education, healthcare, research and science, business and innovation, and federal coordination. Includes data on health disparities as they relate to food access. Rural considerations throughout the report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Food Systems for the Future, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tufts University: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, World Central Kitchen
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Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program for Diabetes Control Among Community Health Centers in Rural Idaho and Oregon
Highlights a study on the efficacy of a fruit and vegetable prescription program aimed at controlling type 2 diabetes in rural northwestern communities. Details the program's structure and implementation into rural community health centers. Presents participants' results and breaks down data by age, race/ethnicity, and food security, among other measures.
Author(s): Barbara Gordon, Sarah Ridinger, Rae Krick, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(7), 975-979
Date: 07/2022
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of a fruit and vegetable prescription program aimed at controlling type 2 diabetes in rural northwestern communities. Details the program's structure and implementation into rural community health centers. Presents participants' results and breaks down data by age, race/ethnicity, and food security, among other measures.
Author(s): Barbara Gordon, Sarah Ridinger, Rae Krick, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(7), 975-979
Date: 07/2022
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How a Desert Town Is Growing Its Way to Better Health
Highlights the work of a community garden program to address food insecurity in Huachuca City, Arizona, by offering fresh produce to the rural desert community through partnerships with the local library and senior center. Discusses the development of the garden, how it responded to challenges related to water, and the efforts of the program to encourage healthy lifestyle through community and youth programming.
Author(s): Elizabeth Bellizzi
Date: 07/2022
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Highlights the work of a community garden program to address food insecurity in Huachuca City, Arizona, by offering fresh produce to the rural desert community through partnerships with the local library and senior center. Discusses the development of the garden, how it responded to challenges related to water, and the efforts of the program to encourage healthy lifestyle through community and youth programming.
Author(s): Elizabeth Bellizzi
Date: 07/2022
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Last Updated: 5/27/2025