According to the 2023 County Health Rankings for Burke County, 42.7% of the population is considered to be in a rural setting and 16% are food insecure. Studies have shown that the more access a person has to fresh fruits and vegetables, the lower the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. According to County Health Rankings 2022, 36% of adults in Burke County are obese. Obesity opens the door to many other health complications such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, loss of bone density, joint pain, and more.

Promoting access to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as promoting programs that allow community members to have equal access to these programs and places can help to prevent individuals from having an increased risk of obesity and other health complications from eating unhealthy foods.