Why Producing a Hunger Report is Worth It

[Viable Food News Desk]

Publisher: Food Bank News
Published: October 2, 2026
Source: Read at Food Bank News
Category: Food Access

Capital Area Food Bank released its 2026 Hunger Report, its fifth-consecutive year of reporting, and found that regional food insecurity reached a five-year high, surpassing levels at the height of the pandemic. The report draws on a survey of nearly 4,000 residents conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, and the food bank invested more than $300,000 in the research and production. The county-level findings are used to guide food distribution and inform local government decisions. Montgomery County in Maryland reduced food insecurity by four percentage points, from 35% to 31%, after maintaining basic-needs service hubs, supporting a farm-to-food-bank effort, contributing to food relief groups, and matching part of the state's hunger relief funding.

Why this matters: Localized food insecurity data can help independent grocers and food-access groups target distribution and identify partners or solutions suited to specific communities. The findings may also support local funding decisions that affect food security services.

This post summarizes and links to the original source. It does not reproduce the full article.