Food Deserts in West Virginia
Many West Virginians are unable to afford or access healthy, nutritious foods despite both federal and state level strategies to help combat these issues. This Science & Technology Note expands on a previous note and explores the state of food insecurity and food deserts in West Virginia, as well as government funding and alternative farming techniques to help alleviate these issues.
Research Highlights
West Virginia has a high rate of food insecurity and people living in food deserts.
The federal and state governments have provided funding to help alleviate food deserts.
Hydroponic farming is a strategy that can be implemented anywhere and could benefit West Virginia.
Other states take various approaches to help combat food deserts that could be explored in West Virginia.
Many West Virginians are unable to afford or access healthy, nutritious foods despite both federal and state level strategies to help combat these issues. This Science & Technology Note expands on a previous Note and explores food insecurity and food deserts in West Virginia, as well as government funding and alternative farming techniques to help alleviate these issues.
Food Insecurity and Food Deserts in West Virginia
Access to food is a major issue in West Virginia. West Virginia has a higher rate of food insecurity, meaning they lack access to an affordable and nutritious diet, than the US. However, the rate of households in West Virginia experiencing very low food security, which entails regularly skipping meals or reducing how much they eat, is lower than the national average.
Many West Virginians participate in federal programs for food assistance. About 14% of West Virginians (255,000 people) are eligible for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), of which ~98% participate. SNAP provides financial assistance for groceries to households making less than 200% of the federal poverty rate. About 4% of West Virginians are eligible for the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), of which 46.1% participate. WIC enrollment is generally lower than SNAP because of difficulties applying or lack of awareness. Households with pregnant women or children under 5 are eligible for WIC if their income is less than 185% of the federal poverty rate. West Virginia could offer application assistance programs that accommodate work and school schedules and also work to raise awareness.
Rates of food insecurity in West Virginia and the US. Numbers in each bar indicate the percent of people in that category. Based on data from the USDA.
One likely factor contributing to food insecurity is the prevalence of food deserts. Food deserts are areas in which there is a 20% poverty rate and 33% of the population lives 1 mile (in urban areas) or 10 miles (in rural areas) from the nearest grocery store. The USDA defines grocery stores as stores selling a selection of goods in each of the four staple food categories: fresh produce; meat, fish, or poultry; dairy products; and breads or cereals. In West Virginia, about 25% of the population lives in a food desert, many of whom travel 45 minutes or more to access fresh produce. These travel requirements can be especially difficult for people without reliable transportation. Residents living in food deserts are more likely to be served by dollar or convenience stores that generally sell foods with high levels of saturated fats, sugars, and sodium which can lead to poor health. Dollar General, the most popular dollar store in West Virginia with 313 locations, offers fresh produce at 25 of their West Virginia locations with plans to expand to more, according to a 2023 statement.
Map of food deserts in West Virginia. Map from the West Virginia Dept. of Health 2023 State Health Assessment.
Strategies to Increase Food Access
West Virginia has received funding to increase food accessibility. The West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition received a USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant in 2019 to improve food access in underserved areas and revitalize low income communities with job creation. The coalition established stores in Princeton and Wheeling, as well as 5 kiosks in existing businesses in Pocahontas County. HB 4169 (2024) sought to establish weekly markets in food deserts, however, this bill did not advance out of committee. Similarly, the West Virginia Farmers Market Association was awarded funding by the West Virginia Dept. of Agriculture to provide grants to farmers markets around the state. Farmers markets help provide local, fresh produce to communities that lack easy access to nutritious food, and generally accept SNAP payments. These grants were awarded in 2024 to 14 farmers markets to assist with technology, marketing, and market improvements. Additionally, HB 2633 (2021) was passed and reduced requirements, including some fees, for farmers to help increase participation in these programs. The West Virginia legislature also approved an additional $360,000 for the 2026 SNAP Stretch program, which provides additional funds for SNAP recipients when they purchase locally-sourced produce.
In 2020, West Virginia SNAP participants were eligible to use their benefits to purchase food for delivery or pickup from certain stores. Now most grocery stores are eligible, however these benefits cannot pay delivery fees. Most (90%) US households in food deserts could benefit from these services, however the majority of them live in urban areas. Most West Virginians (64%), live in rural areas, which are less likely to be eligible for delivery services. Therefore, other services like mobile food pantries are more likely to be beneficial for rural residents.
Many West Virginians seem interested in growing their own food. A WVU program that gave free seeds to individuals to grow produce received 25,000 registrants in just two weeks. A potential strategy to help combat food insecurity and food deserts is the use of alternative farming techniques such as hydroponic farming, growing crops without soil using nutrient-rich water. This method has several advantages over traditional farming practices including: using up to 98% less water; more efficient space use; faster growth rates; year-round production; and the ability to implement these systems anywhere, including urban areas. Furthermore, most of West Virginia’s soil is not ideal for farming, so hydroponic systems may be an option to grow food in places that otherwise couldn’t. Other considerations include high start-up costs, required technical expertise, and significant energy usage to power light sources. Hydroponic farming is already producing food for West Virginians. A farmer in Dunbar is growing produce like tomatoes, leafy greens, and peppers in an old trailer park.
Strategies to Increase Food Access in Other States
The Healthy Food for Ohio (HFFO) program provides funding to retailers seeking to develop or renovate fresh food retail opportunities in underserved communities in Ohio. The HFFO program has been successful by helping to serve almost 50,000 residents and providing over 150 jobs. This is similar to the HFFI program that has benefitted rural West Virginians. West Virginia could expand on this opportunity by allocating matching funds or creating a new grant program to help create new grocery stores in food deserts. Larger grocery stores have difficulty opening locations in rural areas like much of West Virginia due, in part, to low population densities and revenue. Therefore, these grant programs could be a more beneficial option for West Virginia.
Virginia’s governor announced a grant to support hydroponic farming in Virginia, which is projected to generate millions of dollars, jobs, and several million pounds of produce each year. West Virginia could also provide funding for hydroponic farming. There are thousands of brownfield, abandoned, or dilapidated buildings around West Virginia. Providing funding to renovate these buildings and transition them into hydroponic farming facilities could provide jobs for local communities and a new source of fresh produce. This could be further leveraged with tax incentives similar to what states like Missouri provide, to those seeking to either establish or improve an urban farm, including hydroponic farms.
This Science and Technology Note was prepared by Nathan G. Burns, PhD, West Virginia Science & Technology Policy Fellow on behalf of the West Virginia Science and Technology Policy (WV STeP) Initiative. The WV STeP Initiative provides nonpartisan research and information to members of the West Virginia Legislature. This Note is intended for informational purposes only and does not indicate support or opposition to a particular bill or policy approach. Please contact info@wvstep.org for more information.
