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The unpredictability of U.S. food systems

Rising food costs and economic challenges have made access to healthy food more diffuclt across the U.S.

Ryan Kornegay is a biological specialist for the Institute of Food and Agriculture within USDA.

“It’s one thing to be able to have food, but then to have nutrition is a whole other thing,” he says. “Getting people fresh produce, getting them fresh fruits and vegetables is really something that we’re trying to do more of. That’s the only way to solve food insecurity.”

He tells Brownfield food deserts remain a challenge for many Americans.

“There’s no grocery store within about 20 to 25 miles in my hometown and we’re just one town like that,” he says. “There’s so much more work that needs to be done, not only on the food insecurity area, but also in nutrition.”

Kornegay says addressing food insecurity is a multi-faceted issue, but policy changes could help strengthen food systems.

Kornegay was a panelist during the 2025 Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry. Other Purdue Agriculture alumni panelists included Halee Fisher, legislative assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture under Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, and Mark Gee, research scientist at Beck’s Hybrids.

AUDIO: Ryan Kornegay

AUDIO: Halee Fisher

AUDIO: Mark Gee

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