Setting the table for rural food access: Models from Appalachia and the Deep South

Abigail Darwin, Nicole Nunoo, Jung Lee, Abigail Borron and Jennifer Thompson

Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 2024, vol. 14, issue 1

Abstract: The Southeastern United States was built upon agriculture, but paradoxically its rural residents experience high rates of food insecurity due to numerous intersecting socio-economic barriers. Food insecurity leads to higher rates of diet-related chronic disease in rural populations compared to their urban counterparts, further compounded by limited access to healthcare. Guided by the theoret­ical frameworks of assets-based community development and the culture-centered approach, this paper investigates existing program models that guide the establishment of community-derived programs to increase the availability and accessibility of locally sourced fruit and vegetables for low-income residents of the rural Southeast. Data were collected through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with leadership from twelve community-derived food access programs in Appalachia and the Deep South. Using a frame­work approach, data were analyzed to identify and characterize current models based on their struc­tures and guiding values. Four pro­gram models were identified: the Charity Model, the Support Model, the Restructure Model, and the Market Model, which range from providing emer­gency food to restructuring the local food system. We present characteristics of each model, the chal­lenges faced, and lessons learned by participating programs. In addition to identifying the four mod­els, an unexpected result of this work was uncover­ing subtle yet important differences between Appalachian and Deep South programs that reflect their divergent, yet parallel cultural histories of marginalization and resilience.

Keywords: Food; Security; and; Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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