Food insecurity is more prevalent in rural than urban communities in the United States, according to a report from CoBank.
Sixty-three per cent of U.S.communities are ranked as rural and they account for 87per cent per cent of counties with the highest food insecurity rates, CoBank said.
The primary challenge for rural residents is the prevalence of low-access food deserts, where the distance to supermarkets impedes the ability of consumers to access a wide range of food and beverage options. it said.
By that criteria, Canada would have an even greater challenge.
It said serving these customers through direct-to-consumer ecommerce platforms or direct delivery could be a relatively easy and profitable means to improve their food options.
“A sizable portion of the country falls within the realm of a food desert and with 10% of the U.S. population experiencing some degree of food insecurity, the market is there,” said Billy Roberts, senior food and beverage economist for CoBank.
“Innovation in the areas of driverless and drone delivery could ultimately provide food and beverage companies even more opportunities to establish direct relationships with underserved rural consumers.”
U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that 27 million Americans suffered from food insecurity as of July 2023. Feeding America estimates the number of food insecure is closer to 34 million.
Dozens of rural counties have no food store options. Walmart is the largest food retailer in the U.S. but there are considerable gaps in its market penetration.
Population density suggests many of the food deserts in less-populated areas of the country simply do not have the consumer base to support a full-size grocery store.
Research from The Brookings Institution finds 93 per cent of the U.S. population—including 90 per cent of people living in food deserts—has access to food delivery from at least one of four major players: Amazon, Instacart, Uber Eats or Walmart.
However, only 37 per cent of rural residents within limited-access food deserts have access to the major food delivery services. Significant barriers remain for these communities, often including the lack of reliable broadband connectivity.
Convenience and dollar stores have increasingly focused on foods, improving access in some rural communities. However, low margins may be an obstacle to their continued growth in food sales.
Dollar Tree recently pared down its profit expectations, citing an increase in low-margin purchases such as food, as well as issues with shrink and fuel costs.
Roberts during the COVIC-19 pandemic “farmers in rural America expanded their own delivery capabilities to meet consumer demand that stemmed from empty grocery store shelves or consumers efforts to isolate themselves.”
For shelf-stable food and beverage, delivery mechanisms exist even if it takes the form of FedEx, UPS or USPS. Fresh food offerings present another challenge altogether.
But direct-to-consumer approaches will become more viable as delivery technologies improve. Food and beverage manufacturers could incorporate those technologies and establish their brands as part of rural consumers’ ensconced ordering procedures.
