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Rural Hunger
Rates of food insecurity, the statistical
measurement of hunger or near hunger, among rural households is generally
lower than urban households, but slightly higher than the national average.
The irony is that many of these hungry and near hungry households are in the
very rural and farm communities whose productivity feeds the world and
provides low-cost wholesome food for American consumers. That so many
people need to turn to a food bank or church pantry just to eat in the very
same communities where the food is raised is a sad reminder of how much more
needs to be done.
Facts about Rural Hunger
Challenges facing rural areas greatly differ
from metro/urban areas: [i]
Employment is more concentrated in low-wage industries
Unemployment and underemployment are greater
Education levels are lower
Work support services, such as flexible and affordable child care
and public transportation, are less available
The rural market place offers less access to communication and
transportation network to companies [ii]
The rural market place offers companies less access to activities
that foster administration, research and development
13.1 percent of rural (outside metropolitan areas) households were
classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as food
insecure. This percentage is lower than in metropolitan areas (15.4%) but
significantly higher than suburban and other metropolitan areas outside of
principal cities (9.0%) [iii].
The nonmetro poverty rate has exceeded the metro poverty rate every
year since poverty was first officially measured in the 1960s. The
largest majority (340 of 386) of persistent poverty counties are located
in non-metro areas [iv] .
The 2003 child poverty rate in rural areas was 20.1 percent while
metro/urban areas had a rate of 17.1 percent [v].
Of the nearly 50,000 agencies served by America's Second Harvest, 14.9
percent of all client households are served by rural program sites.
Seniors comprised of 25 percent of clients at emergency food programs
located in non-metropolitan areas. [vi].
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