Food security is fundamental to health, economic stability, and community wellbeing, yet in one of North Carolina’s most agriculturally rich regions, far too many households still struggle to put nutritious food on the table. That is the central finding of State of Food Access in Guilford County, the comprehensive food study Innovative Research Insights conducted for the Guilford County Division of Social Services, now published on the County’s Food Resources Data page alongside its Grocery Gap Dashboard.
The study combined sociodemographic analysis, mapping of the county’s food production and retail environment, secondary health and assistance data, and extensive community input, including a large resident survey, focus groups and listening sessions, and a Photovoice project in which residents documented their experiences of food access through photographs and narratives. Several findings stand out.
Food insecurity is persistent and unevenly distributed. Approximately 13.7 percent of Guilford County residents experience food insecurity, with significant racial and geographic disparities. Households in low-income and historically marginalized communities face the highest barriers to accessing nutritious food, and the rise of fast-food establishments in precisely these neighborhoods compounds the nutritional consequences.
Affordability is squeezing family budgets. Many families spend more than 11 percent of their income on food, and rising grocery prices have pushed households into rationing. In our resident survey, 40 percent of respondents reported skipping meals or reducing portion sizes due to financial constraints, a sobering figure in a county with substantial agricultural and food manufacturing assets.
Physical access remains a structural barrier. Food deserts persist across the county: more than 60 percent of households in food-insecure areas lack access to a full-service grocery store within one mile, and transportation barriers weigh heaviest on elderly and disabled residents, a theme that came through vividly in the Photovoice narratives.
The safety net has real gaps. While SNAP supports thousands of Guilford County households, roughly 35 percent of food-insecure residents are ineligible for assistance, caught in the space between qualifying for help and earning enough to manage rising costs. Focus group participants also described the stigma attached to food assistance, which discourages some eligible individuals from seeking support at all.
Community-led solutions show promise, and residents want more of them. Community gardens, urban farms, and mutual aid networks are already delivering fresh produce to underserved neighborhoods, and 85 percent of survey respondents supported expanding urban farming and community garden initiatives. Scaling these efforts, however, will require sustained policy support and investment in food infrastructure.
What distinguishes this study is the pairing of quantitative analysis with community voice. The data tell us where the gaps are; residents told us what the gaps feel like, from the emotional toll of uncertain access to healthy food to the strength of shared food resources that hold neighborhoods together. Guilford County has now made both available to the public, with the full report accessible through the County’s food security data hub, where readers can also explore the Grocery Gap Dashboard’s interactive view of healthy food access gaps.
IRI conducts needs assessments and applied research that pair rigorous data analysis with authentic community engagement. To discuss a study for your community or organization, visit our Consulting Services page or contact us.
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