Library

Reports: Access to healthy food

Map the Meal Gap 2022
Feeding America, July 2022, 24 pp.
Focuses on the extent and variation in local food insecurity levels in the United States in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes local food data for several racial and ethnic identities. more info >

The Food and Nutrition Assistance Landscape: Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report
USDA Economic Research Service, June 2022, 36 pp.
This report uses preliminary data from USDA, Food and Nutrition Service and USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service to examine program trends and policy changes in USDA’s largest U.S. food and nutrition assistance programs through FY 2021. more info >

The Food Retail Landscape Across Rural America
United States Department of Agriculture, June 2021, 160 pp.
Examines the landscape of food retailers across the United States, with a focus on rural America and grocery stores, distinguishing between national, regional, and local chains and single location stores and finding that the number of grocery stores has declined from 1990 to 2015. more info >

U.S. Shoppers’ Access to Multiple Food Stores Varies by Region
United States Department of Agriculture, June 2019, 21 pp.
This report uses census data to calculate distances between households and grocery stores, identifying areas where choices are limited and a lack of competition between stores could result in shoppers facing higher prices, lower quality, and reduced selection of foods. The majority of these areas are in portions of the Great Plains section of the Midwest, the Southwest, and the western region of the United States. more info >

Hunger in North Dakota 2018: A Report on the Charitable Food Network
Great Plains Food Bank, September 2018, 123 pp.
This is a comprehensive study of trends in food insecurity, and the household demographics, coping strategies, health status, and use of nutrition programs by individuals who have sought emergency food assistance in North Dakota. more info >

State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2018
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 2018, 18 pp.
Provides national and state-specific information on fruit and vegetable consumption and policy and environmental support within each state. more info >

Community Gardening: Policy Reference Guide
U.S. Department of Agriculture, October 2017, 60 pp.
This guide provides a road map for how local laws and policies can impact local gardening efforts, highlighting the benefits of community gardens and providing examples of laws and policies that can help to promote community gardening and related activities. more info >

Municipal Strategies to Increase Food Access
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, September 2017, 126 pp.
This report highlights multiple strategies that cities and towns can use to increase access to healthy food for their residents. more info >

Meeting the Dietary Needs of Older Adults: Exploring the Impact of the Physical, Social, and Cultural Environment: Workshop Summary
The National Academies Press, July 2016, 155 pp.
Summarizes information gathered at a workshop on Meeting the Dietary Needs of Older Adults. Discusses how access to healthy food is impacted by geographic, financial, and transportation barriers. more info >

Healthy Food Access: A View of the Landscape in Minnesota and Lessons Learned From Healthy Food Financing Initiatives
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Wilder Research, April 2016, 54 pp.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Wilder Research conducted a mixed-methods study to provide information to those interested in improving Minnesota's food retail environment. more info >

Healthy Food in Hunger Relief
Wilder Research, September 2015, 69 pp.
Study commissioned by The Open Door to gauge the interest in and feasibility of implementing a healthy food approach in Dakota County's food shelves. more info >

Promoting Healthy Eating at Food Shelves: Strategies for Success and Recommended Resources
University of Minnesota, January 2014, 12 pp.
A guide for what food shelves can do to ensure that people have access to nutritious foods. more info >

Economic and Community Development Outcomes of Healthy Food Retail
PolicyLink, November 2013, 22 pp.
Examines the economic aspects of improving access to healthy food through food retailing, distribution, and production innovations. more info >

Metropolitan Food Systems Plan
Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments, October 2013, 50 pp.
Explores available research and data on food access and infrastructure in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area and presents strategic objectives and desired outcomes for the region. more info >

State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables 2013 - North Dakota Action Guide
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2013, 2 pp.
Provides potential actions that state leaders, public health professionals, coalitions, and community-based organizations can take to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. more info >

Access to Healthy Food and Why it Matters: A Review of the Research
PolicyLink, February 2013, 35 pp.
Findings from a review of recent research on healthy food and food access designed to inform those people designing and implementing strategies to make healthy food available. more info >

The Healthy Food Financing Handbook: From Advocacy to Implementation
The Food Trust, January 2013, 42 pp.
Describes a step-by-step approach to developing state and local policies that encourage the development of supermarkets and other healthy food stores in underserved communities. more info >

Healthy Food, Healthy Communities: Promising Strategies to Improve Access to Fresh, Healthy Food and Transform Communities (expanded version)
PolicyLink, July 2011, 84 pp.
Presents promising programs and policies that work to increase access to healthy foods in underserved communities. Includes case studies. more info >

The Grocery Gap: Who Has Access to Healthy Food and Why it Matters
PolicyLink, The Food Trust, February 2010, 44 pp.
Inequitable access to healthy food is a major contributor to health disparities. This report presents a large body of evidence that many low-income communities, communities of color, and sparsely populated rural areas do not have sufficient opportunities to buy healthy, affordable food. more info >

Creating a Hunger Free North Dakota Statewide Study
Great Plains Food Bank, February 2008, 140 pp.
Presents the results of a study of North Dakota's statewide charitable feeding network, and provides an in-depth look at both the existing levels of service and the potential for increased capacity among current and potential providers. more info >

Web sites

Gardening and Horticulture - North Dakota State University
Resources on growing fruits, vegetables, and trees in the region, as well as maintaining lawns and supporting pollinators. more info >

Food Insecurity in North Dakota
Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. This interactive map provides data on food insecurity at the county level to improve our understanding of food insecurity and food costs in local communities. more info >