SNAP redemptions per store grew most in nonmetro counties

The economic hardships of the recent recession increased the number of Americans needing food assistance. The average number of participants in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) grew from 28.2 million per month in 2008 to 33.5 million per month in 2009. Of the 2,887 U.S. counties with stores authorized to accept SNAP benefits in 2008-09, 813 counties experienced increases in average redemptions per store of more than 50 percent. Two-thirds of the 813 counties were nonmetro counties. This chart may be found in the September 2011 issue of Amber Waves magazine.

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