Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources

Rural Households Account for Nearly One-fifth of U.S. Food-insecure Households
Pie chart showing the proportion of food insecure households in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in 2016.
Date: 12/2017
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Independent Grocery Stores in the Changing Landscape of the U.S. Food Retail Industry
Examines the performance of independent U.S. grocery stores in 2015, and reports on changes in the prevalence and performance of these stores between 2005 and 2015. Highlights the important role of rural independent grocery stores as employers, tax generators, and sources of healthy and specialty foods.
Author(s): Clare Cho, Richard Volpe
Date: 11/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Share of SNAP Households That Live Far from a Supermarket or Large Grocery Store Varies by County
Map showing 2015 county-level data on the percent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households that lived far from the nearest supermarket or large grocery store, more than 1 mile in urban areas or more than 10 miles in rural areas.
Date: 11/2017
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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SNAP Declines Continue in 2016, but Not for Rural Places
Line chart showing the percent of households that report receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance from 2007 through 2016, comparing city, rural, and suburban trends.
Author(s): Jessica A. Carson
Date: 11/2017
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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The Influence of Food Store Access on Grocery Shopping and Food Spending
Reports on households that do not use their own vehicle to travel to a store and live more than half a mile from a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) authorized supermarket or superstore. Includes data on household sources of food, including stores, family and friends, the household's own production, food pantries, and other sources. Data is provided by distance, and the report notes that all households more than 10 miles from the nearest SNAP-authorized store and 55% of households 1-10 miles from a SNAP-authorized store are in rural areas.
Author(s): Michele Ver Ploeg, Elizabeth Larimore, Parke Wilde
Date: 10/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Differences in Characteristics Among Households With and Without Obese Children: Findings From USDA's FoodAPS
Examines characteristics of households with at least one obese child and without any obese children. Table 2 compares rural and urban household financial well-being, as it relates to obesity. Table 3 examines the food environment for rural households with and without obese children.
Author(s): Young Jo
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Understanding the Prevalence, Severity, and Distribution of Food Insecurity in the United States
Reports on food insecurity in 2016, including data on nonmetropolitan households that have low food security and very low food security.
Author(s): Matthew P. Rabbitt, Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Christian A. Gregory
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Food-Spending Patterns of Households Participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Findings From USDA's FoodAPS
Reports on food spending in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households, eligible nonparticipant households, and other U.S. households. Includes data specific to households in rural areas.
Author(s): Laura Tiehen, Constance Newman, John A. Kirlin
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Low-Income Areas With Low Supermarket Access Increased in Urban Areas, But Not in Rural Areas, Between 2010 and 2015
Reports on changes in the number of low-income and low-access (LILA) census tracts between 2010 and 2015 for rural and urban areas. Briefly describes changes to the low-access or low-income aspect for rural census tracts that became LILA tracts in 2015.
Author(s): Alana Rhone
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Who Experiences Very Low Food Security?
Bar chart showing characteristics of households experiencing very low food security, which may include cutting back on or skipping meals or going a whole day without eating. Includes data comparing city, suburban, and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on 2015 Current Population Survey data.
Date: 03/2017
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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