This U.S. State Is Experiencing the Country’s Worst Food Insecurity

published Sep 10, 2024

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An estimated 13.5 percent (18 million) of homes in the United States reported experiencing food insecurity in 2023. Food insecurity occurs when you can’t pinpoint where your next meal is going to come from. A recent report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) points out these concerning truths, highlighting a particular state with the highest rates of this problem.

Each year, the USDA’s Economic Research Service conducts a study to understand whether or not households across the country have dependable access to meals. The findings showed that Arkansas rose to the top of states experiencing food insecurity with a rate of 18.9 percent, surpassing the national average of 13.5 percent.

The survey used for this report asked one adult respondent per household about their experience with food insecurity during 2023. The questions asked if people could afford balanced meals or ever had to cut down their portion of meals because of a lack of funds.

The Kitchn spoke with Christie Jordan, the CEO at the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas (FBNA), to understand what factors might explain the Southern state’s top ranking for food insecurities.

“The state has a significant rural population where access to grocery stores and food resources can be limited, contributing to food deserts,” Jordan says. People living in a food desert lack access to fresh, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods, making it difficult to reliably put food on the table.

Jordan points out that children, low-income families, and rural residents are most likely to experience food insecurity in Arkansas. To combat this issue, the FBNA hosts several programs aimed at advocating for access to food and distributing meals to food-insecure people through a network of nonprofit agencies.

However, to really tackle this issue at its root, this organization is looking to the farm bill to enact change. This comprehensive piece of legislation — renewed every five years — plays a critical role in shaping food and nutrition policy across the country. Jordan points out that the farm bill’s provisions directly impact the ability to address food insecurity in Arkansas.

Specifically, the FBNA hopes for the support of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the farm bill, which can significantly reduce food insecurity by allowing more people to access the resources they need. Additionally, she points out the importance of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in helping people afford necessary food staples. TEFAP supplies emergency food and nutrition assistance to food-insecure people through a network of food banks and other community-based organizations.

Jordan continues, “Support for this program ensures that the food bank can continue to distribute food to those experiencing immediate hunger and crisis situations.”

If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, the USDA National Hunger Hotline can be reached at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479). The hotline is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time.