Changes in Neighborhood Foodscapes From 2003 to 2023 by Area Rurality in the United States.
Urban Ecology
Growing your own food starts looking a lot more purposeful when the nearest grocery store with fresh produce is 30+ miles away — and that gap widened for millions of rural Americans over the past two decades.
Researchers mapped out where Americans could buy food over 20 years and found the landscape of food stores changed quite differently in cities versus small towns and rural areas. Rural communities saw distinct shifts that don't mirror what happened in urban neighborhoods. This matters because where people can buy food shapes what they eat — and it highlights why home gardens and community plots carry real practical weight in some places.
Key Findings
Food retail landscapes shifted measurably across U.S. neighborhoods over the 20-year span from 2003 to 2023
Changes in neighborhood foodscapes varied significantly by area rurality, meaning urban, suburban, and rural areas did not follow the same trajectory
The study covers a nationally representative period encompassing major economic events (2008 recession, COVID-19), suggesting structural rather than temporary shifts in food access patterns
chevron_right Technical Summary
A 20-year study tracked how the mix of food retailers in U.S. neighborhoods shifted between 2003 and 2023, finding that changes in food access differed significantly depending on whether an area was urban, suburban, or rural.
Abstract Preview
. 2026;116(7):1004-1014. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308495).
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Urban Tree Canopy Reduces Heat-Related Mortality by 39% in European Cities
Trees in your local park or street aren't just pretty — they are literally keeping people alive during heatwaves, and planting even a modest number of the ri...