USDA Report: The Concentration of Poverty is a Growing Rural Problem
The December edition of Amber Waves highlights a concerning trend: the growth and concentration of rural poverty. While poverty grew throughout the United States as a result of the 2001 and 2007-2009 economic recessions, it grew faster in rural areas, compared to metropolitan areas. The report notes that "in 2006-10, 26.2 percent of the Nation’s…
The City that Ended Hunger
A Yes magazine article by Frances Moore Lappé tells the story of how Brazil's fourth largest city, Belo Horizonte, tackled the issue of hunger. Using a combination of policy and market measures, along with citizen engagement, the city reached nearly 40 percent of it's 2.5 million citizens through various hunger relief and nutrition efforts and…
Community Food Systems and Food Banks
The Community Food Resource Center, part of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, stands out for their efforts to incorporate programs and projects that link people to community-based food systems. They have active home and community gardening programs, a 2.5 acre urban farm, and farmers' markets that provide a source of fresh food to…