All people in North Carolina have equitable access to affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate foods. and 26 more...

All residents of Catawba County will have access to healthy foods

All people in Chatham lead active, healthy lives.

State level HNC indicator measures

All people in Avery County will obtain optimal health by developing good eating habits through having access to adequate nutrition, being more productive in daily life.

All people in Greene County have affordable equitable access to culturally appropriate nutrient dense foods, exercise opportunities, community support, and supporting education.

All people in Burke County have equitable access to fresh fruit and vegetables

All people in Alexander County have equitable access to physical activity opportunities and affordable, nutritious food across the lifespan.

All Beaufort County residents live in a community in which supports healthy lifestyles and healthy eating

All Rowan County residents have access to the resources they need to adopting healthy eat behaviors.

Individuals and families in Wilson County have equitable access to opportunities that support healthy lifestyles and prevent obesity.

All people in Yancey County have equitable access to affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate foods.

All people in Robeson County have access to healthy foods and exercise opportunities.

Everyone in Person County has the resources needed to maintain a healthy weight.

Promote healthy eating and active living

All people in Rockingham County have access to healthy food options and physical activity opportunities which lead to more years lived disease free.

Improve access to healthy foods in Brunswick County.

All members of the Orange County community will have equitable access to existing community services/resources and will be informed on how to contact/use these services.

All people in Columbus County have equitable access to resources that support a healthy lifestyle.

Improve access to healthy nutritious food for all residents

All people in Catawba County are consistently accessing affordable, healthy food.

All people in Rockingham County have access to healthful food options and physical activity opportunities, which lead to more years lived disease-free.

In Durham County, all people, particularly those who are historically marginalized or at or below median income level, have equitable access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food, and safe and accessible environments for physical activity

All people in Guilford County have equitable and adaptive access to physical activity opportunities across the lifespan and equitable access to affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate foods.

All people in Durham County, particularly those who are historically marginalized or at or below median income level, have equitable access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food.

Result Statement 1

Strengthen partnerships with LHDs and local, state, and federal partners

Limited Access to Healthy Foods: Percent of People in North Carolina (Total) with Limited Access to Healthy Foods

Current Value

8%

2025

Definition

Line

Bar

Story Behind the Curve

The trend from 2021-2025 reflects North Carolina population food insecurity from 2015-2019. The graph reflects a slight improvement in access to reliable food between 2015 and 2019 (as reported in 2025 County Health Rankings measures).*

*County Health Rankings Annual Data Releases for the years 2022-2025 used data from 2019 for this measure.

Indicator Notes

The HNC 2030 indicator Limited Access to Healthy Foods includes County Health Rankings data. These numbers are not frequently updated; refer also to alternative indicator: Food Insecurity.

HNC 2030 target: decrease limited access to healthy foods to 5% by 2030.

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps discontinued this measure in 2020, rendering it inappropriate for measuring progress.

Definition of Limited Access to Healthy Foods:

The Limited Accesss to Healthy Foods indicator measures the percentage of population who are low-income and do not live close to a grocery store. The 2025 Annual Data Release used data from 2019 for this measure.

Why is this Important?

Living in a "food desert" (including lack of access to fresh produce) has been correlated with increased prevalence of obesity and premature death.

Supermarkets traditionally provide healthier options than convenience stores or smaller grocery stores.

Additional Information:

Limited Access to Healthy Foods indicator is aligned with HNC2030.

References and Links:

https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data/north-carolina?year=2025&measure=Limited+Access+to+Healthy+Foods*

County level data is available at the following link: https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data/north-carolina/data-and-resources

County Health Rankings (countyhealthrankings.org)

County Health Rankings and Roadmaps (CCR&R) - Business Analyst, Delorme map data, ESRI, & US Census Tiger line Files

*Should not compare ranked data from year to year

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

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