Key Indicators – Hardee County
Source: flhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Updated 08/29/25 0926
Maps – Food Security
Map – Food Insecurity (All Ages)
The food insecurity rate is the percent of the population with poor access to grocery stores and other healthy food outlets.
Hardee County’s food insecurity rate is 19.6%, one of the highest in Florida, considerably exceeding the statewide rate of 13.2%.
Map – Childhood Food Insecurity (0-18 years)
The childhood food insecurity rate is the percentage of children that live in a household without adequate access to grocery stores, produce stands, or other healthy food sources.
At 24.5%, Hardee County’s childhood food insecurity rate is significantly higher than Florida’s statewide rate of 19.1% and exceeds that of 80% of other counties statewide.
Source: Child Food Insecurity Rate, FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Within 0.5 Mile of Healthy Food Source
9.9% of Hardee County’s population resides within 0.5 miles of a healthy food source. This rate closely mirrors the statewide median rate for Florida counties of 10.3%.
Source: Population Living Within One-Half Mile of a Healthy Food Source, FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Limited Access to Healthy Food Source
In Hardee County, 13.0% of residents face limited access to healthy food, a rate considerably higher than Florida’s statewide median rate of 9.4% and exceeding that of 75% of other counties in the state.
Source: Health Data, Hardee, FL, countyhealthrankings.org, 2025
Map – Cash Assistance/ SNAP Benefits
Hardee County has one of Florida’s highest government assistance rates, with 28% of residents receiving food stamps, SNAP benefits, or cash assistance. This rate is double the statewide median of 14.0%.
Source: Households Receiving Cash Public Assistance or Food Stamps (Census ACS), FL healthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Free & Reduced Lunch
In Hardee County, 73.4% of students are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch, a percentage that is one of the highest in Florida and significantly greater than the statewide rate of 52.0%.
Source: Health Data, Hardee, FL, countyhealthrankings.org, 2025