Food Surrogates? County-Level Association Between Vegetable Production and Food Insecurity in the Rural South

This study examines food insecurity in rural Georgia counties. Out of 159 counties in Georgia, 108 met the criterion of over 50% rurality. Despite their central role in U.S. food production, some counties face significant food security issues. We explored the link between food insecurity and harvested vegetable acreage, using regression analysis with county demographics. Results showed no significant correlation between vegetable acreage and food insecurity. We described these areas as possible "food surrogates" and found that factors like food access and poverty were correlated with food insecurity. Further research is needed to understand the challenges of "food surrogate" communities.