Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Hunger and Access to Healthy Food.
No Kid Hungry 2023 Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit
A toolkit that provides sample communications in both English and Spanish for social media, flyers, postcards, and more to spread awareness about summer meal programs. Includes information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation guidance for non-congregate meal service in rural areas.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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A toolkit that provides sample communications in both English and Spanish for social media, flyers, postcards, and more to spread awareness about summer meal programs. Includes information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation guidance for non-congregate meal service in rural areas.
Date: 2023
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Food Insecurity in the Rural United States: An Examination of Struggles and Coping Mechanisms to Feed a Family among Households with a Low-Income
Analyzes the barriers and strategies of low-income rural families around food insecurity. Reports on interviews with 153 primary grocery shoppers about their experiences related to affordability and adequacy of meals, difficulty in obtaining food and managing household food needs, and more. Includes demographic information about participants as well as selected quotes relating to their food insecurity experiences.
Author(s): Carmen Byker Shanks, Lauri Andress, Annie Hardison-Moody, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 14(24), 5250
Date: 12/2022
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Analyzes the barriers and strategies of low-income rural families around food insecurity. Reports on interviews with 153 primary grocery shoppers about their experiences related to affordability and adequacy of meals, difficulty in obtaining food and managing household food needs, and more. Includes demographic information about participants as well as selected quotes relating to their food insecurity experiences.
Author(s): Carmen Byker Shanks, Lauri Andress, Annie Hardison-Moody, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 14(24), 5250
Date: 12/2022
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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Living in Families That Were Food-Insecure in the Past 30 Days, by Family Income and Urbanicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2021
Bar chart showing the percent of adults in food insecure families overall, in urban areas, and in rural areas, with breakdowns by income level for those under the federal poverty level (FPL), between 100-199% of the FPL, and 200% or more of the FPL.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(48), 1539
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Bar chart showing the percent of adults in food insecure families overall, in urban areas, and in rural areas, with breakdowns by income level for those under the federal poverty level (FPL), between 100-199% of the FPL, and 200% or more of the FPL.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(48), 1539
Date: 12/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Supporting Rural Grocery Stores Across the North Central Region
Webinar recording describing 3 programs that work to support rural grocery stores as locations for food security as well as community and economic vitality. Discusses programming and strategies to support rural groceries. Transcript available below description.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Webinar recording describing 3 programs that work to support rural grocery stores as locations for food security as well as community and economic vitality. Discusses programming and strategies to support rural groceries. Transcript available below description.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
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Informing the White House Conference: Ambitious, Actionable Recommendations to End Hunger, Advance Nutrition, and Improve Health in the United States
Provides food security and nutrition policy recommendations on issues such as federal nutrition programs, public health and nutrition education, healthcare, research and science, business and innovation, and federal coordination. Includes data on health disparities as they relate to food access. Rural considerations throughout the report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Food Systems for the Future, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tufts University: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, World Central Kitchen
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Provides food security and nutrition policy recommendations on issues such as federal nutrition programs, public health and nutrition education, healthcare, research and science, business and innovation, and federal coordination. Includes data on health disparities as they relate to food access. Rural considerations throughout the report.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
Date: 08/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Food Systems for the Future, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tufts University: Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, World Central Kitchen
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Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program for Diabetes Control Among Community Health Centers in Rural Idaho and Oregon
Highlights a study on the efficacy of a fruit and vegetable prescription program aimed at controlling type 2 diabetes in rural northwestern communities. Details the program's structure and implementation into rural community health centers. Presents participants' results and breaks down data by age, race/ethnicity, and food security, among other measures.
Author(s): Barbara Gordon, Sarah Ridinger, Rae Krick, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(7), 975-979
Date: 07/2022
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Highlights a study on the efficacy of a fruit and vegetable prescription program aimed at controlling type 2 diabetes in rural northwestern communities. Details the program's structure and implementation into rural community health centers. Presents participants' results and breaks down data by age, race/ethnicity, and food security, among other measures.
Author(s): Barbara Gordon, Sarah Ridinger, Rae Krick, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 112(7), 975-979
Date: 07/2022
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How a Desert Town Is Growing Its Way to Better Health
Highlights the work of a community garden program to address food insecurity in Huachuca City, Arizona, by offering fresh produce to the rural desert community through partnerships with the local library and senior center. Discusses the development of the garden, how it responded to challenges related to water, and the efforts of the program to encourage healthy lifestyle through community and youth programming.
Author(s): Elizabeth Bellizzi
Date: 07/2022
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Highlights the work of a community garden program to address food insecurity in Huachuca City, Arizona, by offering fresh produce to the rural desert community through partnerships with the local library and senior center. Discusses the development of the garden, how it responded to challenges related to water, and the efforts of the program to encourage healthy lifestyle through community and youth programming.
Author(s): Elizabeth Bellizzi
Date: 07/2022
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Report on Health Equity, Hunger, and Nutrition in Indian Country
Reports on feedback related to food and nutrition disparities in Indian Country based on 2 listening sessions that took place in June 2022, hosted by the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and the Native Farm Bill Coalition (NFBC). Provides recommendations such as improving food access and affordability, integrating indigenous-led nutrition education, promoting physical activity, enhancing food security research, and more.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Native American Agriculture Fund, Native Farm Bill Coalition
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Reports on feedback related to food and nutrition disparities in Indian Country based on 2 listening sessions that took place in June 2022, hosted by the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and the Native Farm Bill Coalition (NFBC). Provides recommendations such as improving food access and affordability, integrating indigenous-led nutrition education, promoting physical activity, enhancing food security research, and more.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Native American Agriculture Fund, Native Farm Bill Coalition
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Expansion of Grocery Delivery and Access for Washington SNAP Participants During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines 2021 grocery delivery access and 2017 food insecurity rates by county in Washington using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data and grocery delivery data from Amazon and Walmart. Identifies food insecure areas, including rural regions of the state, and describes actions to address food insecurity.
Author(s): Shawna Beese, Ofer Amram, Acacia Corylus, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 06/2022
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Examines 2021 grocery delivery access and 2017 food insecurity rates by county in Washington using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data and grocery delivery data from Amazon and Walmart. Identifies food insecure areas, including rural regions of the state, and describes actions to address food insecurity.
Author(s): Shawna Beese, Ofer Amram, Acacia Corylus, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 06/2022
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Native American Agriculture and Food Systems: Challenges and Opportunities Presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines impacts of COVID-19 on Native American food systems. Analyzes 401 survey responses from Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) members, such as food producers, tribal leaders, and grocers. Discusses food systems issues such as limited storage capacity, shipment logistics, increased hunger and demand on social support programs, and cessation of food programs during COVID-19.
Author(s): Megan Mucioki, Elizabeth Hoover, Jennifer Sowerwine, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 11(3), 121-137
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Intertribal Agriculture Council
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Examines impacts of COVID-19 on Native American food systems. Analyzes 401 survey responses from Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) members, such as food producers, tribal leaders, and grocers. Discusses food systems issues such as limited storage capacity, shipment logistics, increased hunger and demand on social support programs, and cessation of food programs during COVID-19.
Author(s): Megan Mucioki, Elizabeth Hoover, Jennifer Sowerwine, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 11(3), 121-137
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Intertribal Agriculture Council
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Last Updated: 1/2/2025