How Much Do Americans Pay for Fruits and Vegetables?

by Jane E. Allshouse, Elizabeth Frazão, and Rachel Itskowitz

Many Americans do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Almost half of Americans think eating more fruits and vegetables would make their diets healthier, so why don't they? One argument is that fruits and vegetables are expensive, especially when purchased fresh. According to an ERS study, a consumer can meet the recommendation of three servings of fruits and four servings of vegetables daily for 64 cents.

Keywords: Fruits, Vegetables, food consumption trends, food costs, food expenditures, food assistance programs, National School Lunch Program, child nutrition, produce

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