Exigencies on our food system, particularly safety-net resources like food banks, increased by 50% nationwide ( 1). As society shut down to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the interruptions tested the limits of our current food supply chain to meet supply and demand ( 2). The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an unprecedented food security crisis that will have long-term health effects ( 1).

However, many rural counties with high food insecurity rates in northeastern Washington State and counties along the western coastline still lacked access to home delivery.

Expansion of online delivery services to homes by July 2021 included counties in the eastern and southeastern part of the state. Online delivery services of groceries to homes in May 2021 were concentrated in the Puget Sound region and outlying communities of Vancouver and Yakima. Sources: Walmart delivery data, Amazon delivery data, SNAP benefit data, Washington 2010 census tract shapefile. The 2017 food insecurity rates spotlight the counties most vulnerable to food insecurity. Online grocery delivery access for Washington State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries increased between May and July 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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