Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.

Understanding Low-Income and Low-Access Census Tracts Across the Nation: Subnational and Subpopulation Estimates of Access to Healthy Food
Examines access to food stores by state, metropolitan, and micropolitan area as a proxy for healthy food access. Estimates rural areas' distance to the nearest and third-nearest food store with breakdowns by race/ethnicity, income, age, vehicle access, and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Alana Rhone, Michele Ver Ploeg, Ryan Williams, Vince Breneman
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Evaluation of Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger (EDECH): The Chickasaw Nation Packed Promise Project
Report exploring a project in which boxes of nutritious, shelf-stable foods were provided to low-income families in the Chickasaw Nation territory in rural Oklahoma. Discusses successes, challenges, and costs of implementation.
Author(s): Ronette Briefel, Gregory Chojnacki, Vivian Gabor, et al.
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
view details
An Evaluation Report: Senior Food-Assistance, Related Programming, and Seniors' Experiences Across the Feeding America Network
Discusses characteristics of 17 food bank programs in rural and urban areas of 9 states, through interviews, observations, and document reviews. Examines challenges faced by food-insecure rural seniors and profiles food-assistance programs in rural areas of Montana, Alabama, and Minnesota.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Edward A. Frongillo, Andrea M. Warren
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
view details
Understanding the County Role in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Describes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in terms of its role in the country's social safety-net and the ways counties help fund SNAP services to support low-income residents. Examines disparities in food insecurity between urban and rural areas, and features a county-level map showing food insecurity rates as of 2016. Also describes how SNAP supports local businesses and economies, and helps maintain food access in rural counties.
Date: 03/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
view details
Adults With Diabetes Residing in "Food Swamps" Have Higher Hospitalization Rates
Measures the ratio of fast food outlets to grocers in 784 locations across 15 states, and estimates the association of food swamp severity and hospitalization rates. Includes statistics with breakdowns by mostly urban, mostly rural, and completely rural locations.
Author(s): Aryn Z. Phillips, Hector P. Rodriguez
Citation: Health Services Research, 54(1), Part II, 217-225
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
view details
School Meals Programs and Other USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer
Describes how federal child nutrition programs operate under current law, including eligibility rules, participation, and funding. Features statistics including reimbursement rates with breakdowns by rural or urban locations.
Date: 02/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
view details
Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Practices may Hinder Participation in Community Supported Agriculture among Low-Income Rural Families
Presents a study on the effect food preferences have on rates of participation in community agriculture programs for low-income families in rural areas. Bases results on interviews with families regarding fruit and vegetable preferences.
Author(s): Karla L. Hanson, Jennifer Garner, Leah M. Connor, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(1), 57-67
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
view details
Community-Wide Efforts to Improve the Consumer Food Environment and Physical Activity Resources in Rural Kentucky
Highlights the efforts of a community project in Kentucky to increase access to healthy foods and opportunities to be physically active. Details the project's work with grocery store managers to increase the availability of healthy food and with community members to develop and improve physical activity resources.
Author(s): Alison Gustafson, Margaret McGladrey,Tammy Stephenson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16:180322
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
view details
Prevalence of Food Insecurity Varied by Household Characteristics in 2017
Bar chart showing low food security and very low food security by household characteristics, including location in a principal city, suburban, or rural area.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Food Choice Considerations Among American Indians Living in Rural Oklahoma: The THRIVE Study
Reports the findings of a modified Food Choices Values (FCV) Questionnaire administered to 83 American Indian (Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) customers who shop at tribally owned convenience stores at least 3 times a week. Questionnaire requested information related to buying and eating food, including sensory appeal, safety, accessibility, weight control, convenience, and organic and comfort food. Research findings were used to design and implement a healthy retail intervention within two tribally owned and managed convenience stores.
Author(s): Marianna S. Wetherill, Mary B. Williams, Micah L. Hartwell, et al.
Citation: Appetite, 128, 14-20
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
view details

Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:


Last Updated: 5/2/2024