Resilient Rural Food Access
Research conducted on how rural organizations adapted to pandemic-related food system stressors found that forming new collaborations and enhancing community capacity through pre-existing relationships, an influx of funding, and wrap-around supports were key to resilience. These partnerships, both new and adjusted, were essential in providing necessary support to communities under stress, highlighting the importance of pre-established connections in navigating challenges.
College of Health researcher(s)
Abstract
Background
Food insecurity significantly threatens individual health and community economic vitality. Rates of food insecurity increased across all communities during the COVID-19 pandemic (Pryor & Dietz, 2022). Local organizations that provide families with food support are potentially critical in supporting resilient rural food systems. Limited research has explored how these organizations in rural communities navigated pandemic-related food systems stressors.
Objective
To identify factors rural community key informants (CKI) used towards resilient food systems in rural communities in times of stress.
Study Design, Settings, Participants
CKI from family and food serving organizations in rural (RUCA 7+) communities across 13 states throughout the US were identified by local partners and recruited by the data collection team. Forty-three CKI participated in audio-recorded, open-ended, semi-structured interviews. Kansas State University's IRB approved this study.
Measurable Outcome/Analysis
Interview questions and sample selection were informed by Food Systems Theory (Misselhorn et al., 2012) and Social Organizational Theory of Action and Change (Mancini & Bowen, 2013). Transcript analysis used the constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 2017) focusing on axial codes identifying resilient food system navigation. Codes were used to identify themes explaining resilient rural food systems under stress. County Health Rankings data provided further context and linkage to themes identified in data.
Results
Preliminary findings indicate rural food serving organizations experienced the following changes to functioning that supported resilience in their rural food systems during COVID-19: new collaboration strategies and community capacity building with existing and previous partners, uniquely influenced by relationships, rural community factors, and the nationwide influx of funding resources and increased focus on wrap-around supports (WAS) including partner organization or resource referral, and direct education opportunities.
Conclusion
Some organizations formed new partnerships and many with extant connections pivoted partnership strategies. Partnerships proved critical to connecting clients to WAS necessary for navigating community stressors. Community stressors resist complete identification yet building partnerships in advance helped food systems resiliently adapt. We will include a list of partners with whom rural organizations found value.
Funding
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Kansas State HATCH