Resilient Rural Food Access

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 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. To identify factors rural community key informants (CKI) used towards resilient food systems in rural communities in times of stress. 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. 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. 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. 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.