Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
A Descriptive Analysis of Food Pantries in Twelve American States: Hours of Operation, Faith-Based Affiliation, and Location
Describes the development and content of a charitable food dataset, including geographic information for 3,777 food pantries in 12 states. Features statistics including food insecurity in 2013-2015 and numbers of food pantries and faith-based food pantries, with breakdowns by state and urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Natalie D. Riediger, Lindsey Dahl, Rajeshwari A. Biradar, Adriana N. Mudryj, Mahmoud Torabi
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 525
Date: 03/2022
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Describes the development and content of a charitable food dataset, including geographic information for 3,777 food pantries in 12 states. Features statistics including food insecurity in 2013-2015 and numbers of food pantries and faith-based food pantries, with breakdowns by state and urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Natalie D. Riediger, Lindsey Dahl, Rajeshwari A. Biradar, Adriana N. Mudryj, Mahmoud Torabi
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 525
Date: 03/2022
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USDA Community Eligibility Provision Characteristics Study
Reports on the school meal service Community Eligible Provisions (CEP) in low-income areas based on data from school years 2014-2015 and 2016-2017. Discusses characteristics of participating and non-participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and schools, the perceived benefits and barriers of participation, and impacts of CEP. Includes data on eligibility and participation of LEAs in rural areas.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Jim Murdoch, Hiren Nisar, Devin Wallace-Williams, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Reports on the school meal service Community Eligible Provisions (CEP) in low-income areas based on data from school years 2014-2015 and 2016-2017. Discusses characteristics of participating and non-participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and schools, the perceived benefits and barriers of participation, and impacts of CEP. Includes data on eligibility and participation of LEAs in rural areas.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Jim Murdoch, Hiren Nisar, Devin Wallace-Williams, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
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Children Living in Households That Experienced Food Insecurity: United States, 2019–2020
Presents information on children living in food insecure households based on data from the 2019-2020 National Health Interview Survey. Provides data on food insecurity according to demographic variables, urbanicity, and family structure. Figure 3 shows percentage of children experiencing food insecurity in nonmetropolitan, medium and small metro, large fringe metro, and large central metro.
Author(s): Heidi Ullmann, Julie D. Weeks, Jennifer H. Madans
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Presents information on children living in food insecure households based on data from the 2019-2020 National Health Interview Survey. Provides data on food insecurity according to demographic variables, urbanicity, and family structure. Figure 3 shows percentage of children experiencing food insecurity in nonmetropolitan, medium and small metro, large fringe metro, and large central metro.
Author(s): Heidi Ullmann, Julie D. Weeks, Jennifer H. Madans
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Food Insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native People: A Scoping Review to Inform Future Research and Policy Needs
Presents a literature review focused on food insecurity in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Analyzes 34 studies and synthesizes major issues across the research such as prevalence of food insecurity, cultural foods and food sovereignty, strategies to improve food access, and the need for cultural competency when studying food insecurity in AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Cassandra J Nikolaus, Selisha Johnson, Tia Benally, et al.
Citation: Advances in Nutrition, 13(5), 1566-1583
Date: 01/2022
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Presents a literature review focused on food insecurity in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Analyzes 34 studies and synthesizes major issues across the research such as prevalence of food insecurity, cultural foods and food sovereignty, strategies to improve food access, and the need for cultural competency when studying food insecurity in AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Cassandra J Nikolaus, Selisha Johnson, Tia Benally, et al.
Citation: Advances in Nutrition, 13(5), 1566-1583
Date: 01/2022
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Online Pilot Grocery Intervention Among Rural and Urban Residents Aimed to Improve Purchasing Habits
Results of a study comparing food purchase choices of 129 rural and urban adults in 7 counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina who shopped at online or brick-and-mortar stores during an 8-week-long intervention in the fall of 2021. Features statistics including intervention effect of fruit and vegetable purchases during the study, and demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 871
Date: 01/2022
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Results of a study comparing food purchase choices of 129 rural and urban adults in 7 counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina who shopped at online or brick-and-mortar stores during an 8-week-long intervention in the fall of 2021. Features statistics including intervention effect of fruit and vegetable purchases during the study, and demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 871
Date: 01/2022
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Reimagining Hunger Responses in Times of Crisis: Insights from Case Examples and a Survey of Native Communities' Food Access During COVID-19
Report examining food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic based on 504 food access survey responses. Discusses food insecurity rates in relation to respondent characteristics, resiliency of Native producers and food economies, and policy recommendations to address food access issues.
Author(s): Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, Sandy Martini, Geri Henchy, et al.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Food Research & Action Center, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Native American Agriculture Fund
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Report examining food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native communities during the COVID-19 pandemic based on 504 food access survey responses. Discusses food insecurity rates in relation to respondent characteristics, resiliency of Native producers and food economies, and policy recommendations to address food access issues.
Author(s): Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, Sandy Martini, Geri Henchy, et al.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Food Research & Action Center, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, Native American Agriculture Fund
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Quantifying the Food and Physical Activity Environments in Rural, High Obesity Communities
Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
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Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
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Policy Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity in Rural America: Evidence from Appalachia
Study examining food access during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Appalachian community in Kentucky, based on qualitative data from 5 focus groups. Discusses food scarcity, supply chain disruptions, federal food assistance, community food resources, and home gardening, and highlights policy implications related to federal programs and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily DeWitt, Rachel Gillespie, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12792
Date: 12/2021
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Study examining food access during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Appalachian community in Kentucky, based on qualitative data from 5 focus groups. Discusses food scarcity, supply chain disruptions, federal food assistance, community food resources, and home gardening, and highlights policy implications related to federal programs and social determinants of health.
Author(s): Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily DeWitt, Rachel Gillespie, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12792
Date: 12/2021
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U.S. Population Subgroups See Changes in Food Insecurity from 2019 to 2020 While Overall Rate Remains the Same
Chart comparing 2019 and 2020 data on the prevalence of food insecurity broken down by household composition, race/ethnicity, household income-to-poverty ratio, metro and nonmetro residence, and geographic region based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart comparing 2019 and 2020 data on the prevalence of food insecurity broken down by household composition, race/ethnicity, household income-to-poverty ratio, metro and nonmetro residence, and geographic region based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Contributed to Rural Economic Output, Jobs Following the Great Recession
Reports on the economic impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in rural areas from 2009-2014 based on data from the USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Discusses job creation, household spending, and food-sector investments.
Author(s): Cristina Miller, Katherine Ralston, Stephen Vogel
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on the economic impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in rural areas from 2009-2014 based on data from the USDA and U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Discusses job creation, household spending, and food-sector investments.
Author(s): Cristina Miller, Katherine Ralston, Stephen Vogel
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Last Updated: 3/25/2025