Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Rural Households Accounted for Nearly One-Sixth of U.S. Food-Insecure Households in 2023
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Charts depicting the share of food insecurity in 2023 by residence area type.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Number of Census Tracts Classified Low Income and Low Access to Foodstores Increased in U.S. Urban and Rural Areas from 2015 to 2019
Bar chart comparing number of rural and urban census tracts classified as either or both low-income and low foodstore access between 2015 and 2019. Discusses reasons for the changes over time.
Author(s): Alana Rhone, Clio Polanco Cercado
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar chart comparing number of rural and urban census tracts classified as either or both low-income and low foodstore access between 2015 and 2019. Discusses reasons for the changes over time.
Author(s): Alana Rhone, Clio Polanco Cercado
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Eligibility Map
An interactive map that allows the user to search eligible summer 2024 locations for reduced priced meals at meal site or day care homes. Also shows qualifying rural areas that may provide non-congregate summer meals according to USDA rural definitions.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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An interactive map that allows the user to search eligible summer 2024 locations for reduced priced meals at meal site or day care homes. Also shows qualifying rural areas that may provide non-congregate summer meals according to USDA rural definitions.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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School Foodservice Supply Chain Challenges Dashboard
An interactive dashboard that provides data on supply chain challenges experienced by School Food Authorities (SFAs) during the 2023-2024 school year. Includes information on the type of challenge and characteristics of the SFA, such as Healthy School Meals for All (HSMFA) status, public versus private, size, and urbanicity.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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An interactive dashboard that provides data on supply chain challenges experienced by School Food Authorities (SFAs) during the 2023-2024 school year. Includes information on the type of challenge and characteristics of the SFA, such as Healthy School Meals for All (HSMFA) status, public versus private, size, and urbanicity.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Results of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service-Administered School Food Authority Survey III on Supply Chain Disruption and Student Participation
Analyzes supply chain disruptions impacting school nutrition assistance programs during the 2023-2024 school year. Utilizes survey data from School Food Authorities (SFAs) to examine school meal applications and eligibility, reported supply chain challenges, impacts on school food operations, food and labor costs, student participation, strategies to address supply chain issues, and more. Includes data breakdowns according to SFA size and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Analyzes supply chain disruptions impacting school nutrition assistance programs during the 2023-2024 school year. Utilizes survey data from School Food Authorities (SFAs) to examine school meal applications and eligibility, reported supply chain challenges, impacts on school food operations, food and labor costs, student participation, strategies to address supply chain issues, and more. Includes data breakdowns according to SFA size and urban, suburban, or rural location.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Identifying Areas of High Vulnerability for Rural Veteran Food Insecurity
Examines and locates veteran food insecurity in rural areas by mapping areas of high vulnerability with geographic information systems (GIS). Utilizes multiple data sources to map out Veterans Health Administration (VHA) locations, food deserts, high veteran population density, low community health rankings, and more. Shows locations in the U.S. that have a high population of veterans and food insecurity that are near a VHA location and may benefit from interventions.
Author(s): Sarah E. Bradley, Jacquelyn Heuer, Bridget Hahm, Kristin Pettey, Karen Besterman-Dahan
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 15
Date: 11/2024
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Examines and locates veteran food insecurity in rural areas by mapping areas of high vulnerability with geographic information systems (GIS). Utilizes multiple data sources to map out Veterans Health Administration (VHA) locations, food deserts, high veteran population density, low community health rankings, and more. Shows locations in the U.S. that have a high population of veterans and food insecurity that are near a VHA location and may benefit from interventions.
Author(s): Sarah E. Bradley, Jacquelyn Heuer, Bridget Hahm, Kristin Pettey, Karen Besterman-Dahan
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 15
Date: 11/2024
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Fiscal Years 2021-2023 USDA Report to Congress on Reducing Barriers to Food Access
Examines federal strategies between October 2020 and September 2023 to improve food access in the United States. Discusses resilient food systems, nutrition assistance programs, safety and sustainability, and research and evaluation activities. Includes examples of rural and tribal development, food policy, and funding.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Examines federal strategies between October 2020 and September 2023 to improve food access in the United States. Discusses resilient food systems, nutrition assistance programs, safety and sustainability, and research and evaluation activities. Includes examples of rural and tribal development, food policy, and funding.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Barriers to Access to Local Produce in an Early Childhood Setting in Rural Appalachia
Analyzes access to fresh produce in early childhood programs in Appalachia as well as farm to school programming. Utilizes semi-structured interview feedback with program directors to examine issues such as staffing, increased work loads, regulations, and lack of funding, knowledge, parental involvement, and equipment.
Author(s): Erali' Tracie Miller, Kathleen Schroeder, Bhuwan Thapa, Elizabeth Shay
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 14(1), 1-15.
Date: 10/2024
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Analyzes access to fresh produce in early childhood programs in Appalachia as well as farm to school programming. Utilizes semi-structured interview feedback with program directors to examine issues such as staffing, increased work loads, regulations, and lack of funding, knowledge, parental involvement, and equipment.
Author(s): Erali' Tracie Miller, Kathleen Schroeder, Bhuwan Thapa, Elizabeth Shay
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 14(1), 1-15.
Date: 10/2024
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Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates: Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2022
Presents information on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alongside actual participation in SNAP. Presents information on households, children, elderly, refugees, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other groups enrolled in the program. Tables A.3 and B.3 show rural versus urban participation.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Alma Vigil, Nima Rahimi
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Presents information on eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) alongside actual participation in SNAP. Presents information on households, children, elderly, refugees, low-income families, persons with disabilities, and other groups enrolled in the program. Tables A.3 and B.3 show rural versus urban participation.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Alma Vigil, Nima Rahimi
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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2023 Summer Non-Congregate Meal Service: Results from the 2023 Summer Non-Congregate Sponsor Survey
Evaluates the implementation of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which permanently allowed for rural non-congregate meal service as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Meal Programs. Provides 2023 survey data from State agency sponsors operating summer non-congregate meal service for children, with a focus on site participation, sponsor experiences, meal pick up sites, meal delivery, and future plans for non-congregate meal service.
Additional links: Appendix A - Survey, Data Tables
Author(s): Susannah Barr
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Evaluates the implementation of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which permanently allowed for rural non-congregate meal service as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Meal Programs. Provides 2023 survey data from State agency sponsors operating summer non-congregate meal service for children, with a focus on site participation, sponsor experiences, meal pick up sites, meal delivery, and future plans for non-congregate meal service.
Additional links: Appendix A - Survey, Data Tables
Author(s): Susannah Barr
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
Last Updated: 2/19/2025