Food Insecurity in Virginia: 2025 Report
Key Finding
Approximately 880,000 Virginians (10.2%) experience food insecurity, including 238,000 children (15.8%).
Overview
Virginia, despite being one of the wealthiest states in the nation by median household income, faces persistent food insecurity challenges. This report examines the state of hunger in the Commonwealth as of 2025, analyzing trends, geographic disparities, and the systems in place to address food insecurity.
Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. It exists along a spectrum, from marginal food security (anxiety about food sufficiency) to very low food security (reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns).
Virginia Statewide Statistics (2025)
| Total Population | 8,642,274 |
| Food Insecure Population | 880,000 (10.2%) |
| Child Food Insecurity Rate | 15.8% (238,000 children) |
| Median Household Income | $87,249 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.8% |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% |
| SNAP Participation | 564,000 (6.5%) |
| Free/Reduced Lunch Eligible | 36.2% of students |
| Average Meal Cost | $3.67 |
| Estimated Annual Funding Gap | $473 million |
Food Insecurity Trends (2015-2025)
Analysis
Virginia's food insecurity rate has shown modest improvement since the peak of the pandemic in 2020-2021. The current rate of 10.2% represents:
- Decrease from pandemic peak: Down from 12.4% in 2021
- Above pre-pandemic levels: Still higher than the 9.2% rate in 2019
- Below national average: The U.S. national rate is 11.5%
- Regional variation: Rates range from 6.1% in Northern Virginia to 16.8% in rural Southside counties
Key factors contributing to current food insecurity levels include:
- Rising housing costs, particularly in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads
- Inflation affecting food prices (up 18% since 2021)
- Expiration of pandemic-era SNAP benefit increases
- Economic transitions in rural manufacturing and coal-dependent communities
Food Insecurity by Virginia Region
Food insecurity varies significantly across Virginia's diverse regions:
| Region/County | Population | Food Insecurity Rate | Food Insecure People | Child FI Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia (Lowest Rates) | ||||
| Fairfax County | 1,177,000 | 6.1% | 71,800 | 9.4% |
| Loudoun County | 421,000 | 5.8% | 24,400 | 8.9% |
| Arlington County | 238,000 | 7.2% | 17,100 | 11.2% |
| Hampton Roads/Tidewater | ||||
| Virginia Beach | 453,000 | 8.9% | 40,300 | 13.8% |
| Norfolk | 238,000 | 13.4% | 31,900 | 19.7% |
| Portsmouth | 97,000 | 15.1% | 14,600 | 22.3% |
| Richmond Metro Area | ||||
| Richmond City | 226,000 | 14.7% | 33,200 | 21.5% |
| Henrico County | 334,000 | 8.4% | 28,100 | 13.1% |
| Chesterfield County | 364,000 | 7.6% | 27,700 | 11.9% |
| Southwest Virginia / Appalachia (Highest Rates) | ||||
| Buchanan County | 20,400 | 16.8% | 3,400 | 24.2% |
| Lee County | 23,800 | 16.2% | 3,900 | 23.1% |
| Wise County | 36,100 | 15.4% | 5,600 | 22.4% |
| Central/Southside Virginia | ||||
| Danville City | 42,000 | 16.5% | 6,900 | 24.8% |
| Martinsville City | 13,200 | 15.9% | 2,100 | 23.7% |
| Halifax County | 34,000 | 14.8% | 5,000 | 21.9% |
Food Insecurity by Demographics
By Race/Ethnicity
- Black/African American: 18.2% food insecurity rate
- Hispanic/Latino: 16.7% food insecurity rate
- White (Non-Hispanic): 8.1% food insecurity rate
- Asian American: 7.9% food insecurity rate
By Household Type
- Single mothers with children 26.4%
- Households with seniors (65+) 7.3%
- Two-parent families 8.9%
- Single adults 11.2%
By Age Group
- Children (0-17) 15.8%
- Working-age adults (18-64) 9.8%
- Seniors (65+) 7.3%
Root Causes and Contributing Factors
1. Housing Cost Burden
Virginia ranks 15th nationally for highest housing costs. In Northern Virginia and Richmond, 42% of renters are cost-burdened (spending more than 30% of income on housing), leaving less money for food.
2. Wage Stagnation vs. Rising Costs
While Virginia's minimum wage increased to $12/hour in 2023, the living wage for a single adult is estimated at $18.35/hour in most counties, and $28.40/hour in Northern Virginia.
3. Rural Economic Decline
Southwest Virginia and Southside have experienced significant job losses in manufacturing, tobacco farming, and coal mining. These regions now have limited employment opportunities and higher poverty rates.
4. Transportation Barriers
Many rural Virginians live in food deserts, with limited access to grocery stores. The average distance to a supermarket in Southwest Virginia is 12.3 miles.
5. SNAP Benefit Adequacy
The average SNAP benefit in Virginia is $166 per person per month ($5.53 per day), which covers only 60-70% of a nutritionally adequate diet at current food prices.
Food Assistance Infrastructure
Charitable Food Network
Major Food Banks
- Feeding Southwest Virginia - Serves 26 counties and 9 cities
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank - Covers 25 counties in western/central VA
- FeedMore (Richmond) - Serves central Virginia
- Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia - Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore
- Capital Area Food Bank - Northern Virginia
Federal Nutrition Programs in Virginia (2024)
| Program | Participants | Annual Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP (Food Stamps) | 564,000 | $1.12 billion |
| WIC | 98,000 | $78 million |
| School Breakfast | 247,000 daily | $86 million |
| National School Lunch | 448,000 daily | $312 million |
| Summer EBT (new 2024) | 285,000 | $36 million |
| TEFAP (Emergency Food) | 290,000 | $8.2 million |
Virginia Initiatives and Solutions
State-Level Programs
- Virginia Food Access Investment Program: $5 million fund to support grocery stores and farmers markets in food deserts
- Healthy Food Financing Initiative: Tax credits for retailers opening in underserved areas
- Virginia Fresh Match: SNAP incentive program doubling the value of benefits spent on fresh produce at farmers markets
- School Meals Expansion: Funding to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students in high-poverty schools
Innovative Local Solutions
- Mobile Markets: 47 mobile food pantries serving rural areas without grocery stores
- Food Pharmacy Programs: Partnerships between hospitals and food banks to "prescribe" healthy food to patients with diet-related conditions
- Urban Agriculture: Richmond's urban farm network produces 50,000 lbs of fresh produce annually for food pantries
- College Food Pantries: 38 Virginia colleges now operate on-campus food pantries for students
Policy Recommendations
- Increase SNAP benefit adequacy to reflect actual cost of healthy food in Virginia
- Expand Medicaid coverage to reduce healthcare costs that compete with food budgets
- Raise minimum wage to a living wage indexed to regional cost of living
- Increase affordable housing to reduce housing cost burden
- Invest in rural economic development to create sustainable jobs in struggling regions
- Universal school meals to eliminate stigma and ensure all children are fed
How You Can Help
Individuals
- Volunteer at your local food bank or pantry
- Organize a food drive in your workplace or community
- Make a financial donation to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks
- Advocate for anti-hunger policies with your state legislators
- Support local farmers and donate fresh produce
Businesses & Organizations
- Partner with food banks for employee volunteer programs
- Donate surplus food through food rescue programs
- Sponsor mobile pantry stops in underserved areas
- Provide job training and employment opportunities
- Offer nutritious food options at affordable prices
Methodology and Data Sources
This report synthesizes data from multiple authoritative sources:
- Feeding America Map the Meal Gap 2025: County-level food insecurity estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024, population and demographic data
- Virginia Department of Social Services: SNAP participation and WIC enrollment data
- Virginia Department of Education: School meals participation statistics
- Federation of Virginia Food Banks: Charitable food distribution data
- USDA Economic Research Service: Food access and food desert analysis
Last Updated: January 2025 | Report Authors: FoodBankFinder.net Research Team