Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
Gardening for Health: Using Garden Coordinators and Volunteers to Implement Rural School and Community Gardens
Describes a school and community garden intervention initially established by South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension staff members with the support and collaboration of volunteers from schools and community organizations in rural areas and tribal organizations. Highlights how 13 community gardens in South Dakota became an integral part of a local community wellness coalition by improving local access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Includes a 5-minute video about the SDSU community garden program in rural areas and on reservations in South Dakota.
Author(s): Suzanne Stluka, Lacey A. McCormack, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 11/2019
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Describes a school and community garden intervention initially established by South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension staff members with the support and collaboration of volunteers from schools and community organizations in rural areas and tribal organizations. Highlights how 13 community gardens in South Dakota became an integral part of a local community wellness coalition by improving local access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Includes a 5-minute video about the SDSU community garden program in rural areas and on reservations in South Dakota.
Author(s): Suzanne Stluka, Lacey A. McCormack, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 11/2019
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Characterizing the Local Food Environment and Grocery Store Decision-Making among a Large American Indian Community in the North-Central United States: Qualitative Results from the Healthy Foods Healthy Families Feasibility Study
Highlights a study on the perceived barriers to the access of healthy food for rural tribal communities. Bases conclusions on focus group interviews and discusses potential interventions.
Author(s): Meagan C. Brown, Umit Shrestha, Corrine Huber, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 22(14), 2653-2661
Date: 10/2019
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Highlights a study on the perceived barriers to the access of healthy food for rural tribal communities. Bases conclusions on focus group interviews and discusses potential interventions.
Author(s): Meagan C. Brown, Umit Shrestha, Corrine Huber, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 22(14), 2653-2661
Date: 10/2019
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Disrupting Food Insecurity: Steps Communities Can Take
Offers possible solutions to challenges that affect families' ability to afford a healthy diet. Explores strategies developed specifically to meet needs of overlooked rural communities, including help with housing and transportation.
Additional links: Interactive Data Dashboard
Author(s): Caroline Ratcliffe, Elaine Waxman, Cary Lou, Hannah Hassani, Victoria Tran
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Offers possible solutions to challenges that affect families' ability to afford a healthy diet. Explores strategies developed specifically to meet needs of overlooked rural communities, including help with housing and transportation.
Additional links: Interactive Data Dashboard
Author(s): Caroline Ratcliffe, Elaine Waxman, Cary Lou, Hannah Hassani, Victoria Tran
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
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Opportunities and Challenges Addressing Access to Healthy Food in Five Rural Louisiana Food Stores
Results of a rural food store intervention implemented in 3 Louisiana parishes where obesity prevalence was greater than 40%. Describes implications for public health and offers recommendations for future interventions.
Author(s): Michelle Kendall, Stephanie T. Broyles, Jamila Freightman, Melissa Cater, Denise Holston
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 07/2019
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Results of a rural food store intervention implemented in 3 Louisiana parishes where obesity prevalence was greater than 40%. Describes implications for public health and offers recommendations for future interventions.
Author(s): Michelle Kendall, Stephanie T. Broyles, Jamila Freightman, Melissa Cater, Denise Holston
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 16
Date: 07/2019
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The Impacts of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Redemptions on County-Level Employment
Examines the impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) redemptions on employment for nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties for 2001-2014. Discusses differences before, during, and after the Great Recession. Includes a map showing per capita SNAP redemptions by county for 2010.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): John Pender, Young Jo, Jessica E. Todd, Cristina Miller
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) redemptions on employment for nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties for 2001-2014. Discusses differences before, during, and after the Great Recession. Includes a map showing per capita SNAP redemptions by county for 2010.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): John Pender, Young Jo, Jessica E. Todd, Cristina Miller
Date: 05/2019
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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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
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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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
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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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
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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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
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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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
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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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
Sponsoring organization: Feeding America
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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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
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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
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Last Updated: 3/21/2025