This study aimed to: explore the number and spatial distribution of 9,556 SNAP stores in North Carolina by type and assess how SNAP benefit redemption is linked to store type; compare the demographics of populations living in areas with a high concentration of SNAP participants vs areas with a lower concentration of SNAP participants; and test for disparities in the availability of and access to SNAP-authorized stores in areas with high vs low concentration of SNAP participants stratified by rural/urban status. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Census data were used to explore the spatial distribution of SNAP stores at the census block group level using a Geographic Information System. Among the SNAP stores in North Carolina, 83% were limited-variety stores and 17% were full-variety stores. More households in higher SNAP participant census block groups were non-white, did not have a car, and had children compared to census block groups with lower SNAP participation. Residents in high SNAP participant census block groups typically had access to 0 full-variety stores and 4 limited-variety stores in urban areas and 3 full-variety stores and 17 limited-variety stores in rural areas. This research suggests that SNAP participant access to a variety of stores should be considered when approving food stores for SNAP authorization.
Published: May 2018
ID #: 1105
Journal: J Acad Nutr Diet
Authors: Racine EF, Delmelle E, Major E, Solomon CA
Age Group: Adults and Families
Keywords: Corner store, Food outlet, Geographic information systems, Grocery store, Rural, Supermarket, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Urban
Focus Areas: Food Access, Food Retail, Nutrition Policy & Programs
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: North Carolina
Related Research
May 2026
SNAP participation and the healthfulness of food purchased by households with children during the pandemic
Changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic included emergency benefit allotments and operation waivers. Using five expenditure-based measures of the nutritional quality of food purchases, we tested whether changes in SNAP during the first year of the pandemic were associated with better nutritional quality of food purchases MoreMay 2026
A Pediatric Perspective on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines
Clear, evidence-based guidance on what foods and beverages children and adolescents should consume—and in what amounts—is foundational for promoting healthy growth and preventing diet-related chronic disease across the life course. Yet many children and adolescents in the US continue to have diets of poor nutritional quality. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), issued every 5 MoreMay 2026