Brokering Rural Community Food Security: An Organizational Network Case Study in Central Appalachia

Community‐based organizations (CBOs) are a common entry point to examine the activities, processes, and outcomes of community food security initiatives. Collaborative, inter‐organizational networks are implemented in practice, policy, and research to address the many capacity and resource challenges faced by CBOs. This study examines the role of a broker organization, Grow Appalachia, in facilitating community food security work across the rural region of Central Appalachia. Integrating findings from staff interviews (N = 26), partner site coordinator and staff survey (N = 32), document analysis, and 4 months of participant observation, this study identifies the “rules” implemented by the Grow Appalachia organization across its six‐state service region. Four main rules are identified through the data analysis: “Being In and Of the Community,” “Providing a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,” “Cultivating Science‐Assisted Craft/Mountain Agriculture,” and “Promoting Sustainability for Self‐Sufficiency.” While these rules—and associated program practices—are found to support increased organizational capacity, community buy‐in, relationship building, and self‐sufficiency, they were also associated with Grow Appalachia staff burnout and exclusion of marginalized populations from program and network participation. Overall, the benefits of the rules outweigh the costs, but still undermine the overall community food security mission of the broker organization and its network.