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Data & Use Disclaimer
PlainFoodAccess publishes public food-access data so it is easier to understand. It is a reference tool, not a substitute for professional advice or a statement about any individual.
Informational Use Only
The information on PlainFoodAccess — including low-access shares, food-desert tract counts, SNAP participation, poverty, and vehicle-access figures — is provided for general educational and research purposes. It is not legal, financial, medical, or program-eligibility advice. For questions about SNAP eligibility, local food assistance, or services in your area, consult the relevant federal, state, or local agency.
Area-Level Data, Not Individual Statements
USDA food-access measures describe census tracts and counties — not households. A county-wide "low-access" share does not mean any specific resident lacks food access, and a low share does not mean no one does; conditions vary tract by tract within a county. Figures are averages and counts for an area, drawn from the cited datasets.
Data Limitations & Vintage
Food-access figures come from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 edition (based on 2010 census-tract populations and store locations) — the most recent edition the USDA has published. Socioeconomic context (population, income, poverty, SNAP, vehicles) comes from the Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates. The two carry different vintages, and federal food-access data inherently lags the present by several years. The USDA's distance-based method does not capture every full-service grocer, mobile vendor, food pantry, or transit option. Some areas — chiefly Connecticut's planning regions, which replaced its counties in 2022 — have no 2019 Atlas record and are shown as "not available" rather than estimated. Figures may contain errors inherent in the source data or our processing of it; if you spot one, please tell us and see our editorial & corrections policy.
No Affiliation or Endorsement
PlainFoodAccess is an independent publisher. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the USDA, the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. government, or any agency. References to organizations and datasets are for identification and attribution only.