Economic Strain and Community Concerns in Three Meatpacking Communities

Immigration is changing the face of rural America, and employment in the food processing industry is a major draw to the rural Midwest. This article compares perceptions of economic strain, community concerns, community services, and nutritional well-being between long-term community residents and Hispanic immigrants in three rural Nebraska meatpacking communities. Several patterns emerged. Long-term residents reporting greater personal economic strain also reported poorer nutrition and those reporting more concern with community issues (e.g., language barriers) also reported greater difficulty obtaining community services (e.g., food assistance, affordable housing). Immigrants reporting greater economic strain also reported more concern with community issues and poorer nutrition