Millions of people remain food insecure in the United States despite the country's relative prosperity and strong economy. Estimates of the number of Americans experiencing hunger and food insecurity have remained relatively constant since 1995 at over 30 million individuals (USDA).

As the number of food stamp recipients continues to decline and more people look towards private charitable organizations for assistance, many local groups have begun to assess their overall level of community food security. One focused mechanism through which community food security can be enhanced is community gardening projects.