Sowing Resilience: Nine stories about food insecurity in rural America

Rural communities across the country are grappling with food insecurity. Schoolchildren, seniors, grocers and even farmers face a food crisis compounded by government cuts and soaring costs. These 9 stories reveal how communities are navigating — and reimagining — the systems that have left them hungry.

This series, called Sowing Resilience, is a collaboration between the Institute for Nonprofit News’ Rural News Network and The Associated Press. Nine nonprofit newsrooms were involved: The Beacon, Capital B, Enlace Latino NC, Investigate Midwest, The Jefferson County Beacon, KOSU, Louisville Public Media, The Maine Monitor and MinnPost. The Rural News Network is funded by Google News Initiative and Knight Foundation, among others.

These rural communities feed the world. They’re also going hungry.

Amy Ranky, a Caddo County farmer, advertises Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program eligible items at her farmers market stand in Oklahoma City, on Aug. 30, 2025. photo by Ben Felder/Investigate Midwest

In the rural communities that have made the U.S. a global food power, residents are increasingly finding it difficult to access enough food for themselves. While the national food insecurity rate has dropped slightly over the last decade, farming-dependent counties have seen an 11.7% increase.

Read Investigate Midwest’s story about rising food insecurity rates in farming communities and why recent cuts to SNAP and other federal programs could make the situation worse.

Can grocery stores keep rural Kansas communities vibrant?

Axtell Community Grocery operator Bob Lozier moved to Kansas with his wife from Tacoma, Washington, to run the store and help care for his father-in-law. photo by Chase Castor, The Beacon

Amid expanding food deserts and soaring prices, investments in rural Kansas are keeping small grocery stores afloat. Read this story from The Beacon.

Many Minnesotans already live miles from the nearest grocery store. What happens if it closes?

Sylvia Faust, 6, left, Izzy Faust, 4, and Vivian Faust, 1, tag along with their dad Joel Faust as he picks up groceries at Zup’s grocery store on Aug. 26, 2025, in Cook, Minn. photo by Ellen Schmidt/MinnPost/CatchLight Local/Report for America

Small-town grocers feel a strong sense of responsibility to their communities, but the threat of closure often looms. Read this story from MinnPost.

How our most vulnerable are being pushed to the brink — and finding nourishment and connection

Judy Dobkevich hands fresh strawberries to her husband, Michael Dobkevich, at the Port Townsend Farmers Market. The Dobkevichs use food access programs to help supply their pantry with fresh fruit and vegetables. Photo by Heather Johnson — Judy Dobkevich hands fresh strawberries to her husband, Michael Dobkevich, at the Port Townsend Farmers Market. The Dobkevichs use food access programs to help supply their pantry with fresh fruit and vegetables. photo by Heather Johnson, The Jefferson County Beacon

People and organizations across Jefferson County, Washington, are working to meet the needs of the food insecure by building upon and refining approaches as government assistance dwindles. Read this story from The Jefferson County Beacon.

North Carolina students face reduced access to fresh, local meals amid federal funding cuts

Students are served lunch at L. Gilbert Carroll Middle School in Lumberton, North Carolina, on Thursday, Sept. 4. Robeson County’s Migrant Education Program earned back-to-back state awards for its commitment to migratory students. photo by Walter Gómez, ELNC

A program that brought fresh, local produce to schools is gone, and rural North Carolina districts are scrambling to fill the gap. Read this story from Enlace Latino NC.

Maine’s food pantries stare down volunteer shortage while anticipating cuts

Phylis Allen organizes supplies at Neighbor’s Cupboard, a food pantry in Winterport, Maine, that she has helped run for the past 17 years. photo by Katherine Emery, The Maine Monitor

At Neighbor’s Cupboard in Winterport, funding cuts aren’t the biggest challenge. It’s keeping volunteers, especially as they get older. Read this story from The Maine Monitor.

The Black women driving a food revolution in rural Mississippi

Marquitrice Mangham serves a customer at her mobile food truck in Mound Bayou. photo by Justin Hardiman, Capital B

From grocery stores to food distribution services, Black women are leading efforts to feed their communities. Read this story from Capital B.

How one tribal nation in Oklahoma is combating uncertainty in federal support for food

Butcher House Meats employees cut up meat that will soon be packaged in the Osage Nation in northeastern Oklahoma. photo by Sarah Liese, KOSU

Tribal nations in Oklahoma have historically been leaders in getting food to hungry people — both native and non-native. But uncertainty created by federal funding changes is causing concern for leaders of the Osage Nation and other tribes. Read this story from KOSU.

Kentucky has kicked people off of food benefits using data that doesn’t tell the full story

A neon “EBT Accepted” sign sits in the window of a small Louisville corner story. photo by Sylvia Goodman, KPR

With food insecurity rising, Kentucky continues to aggressively investigate individuals on fraud allegations, with some legal experts claiming they rely too much on faulty evidence. Read this story from KPR.