The Cost of Satisfying Fruit and Vegetable Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines

The Cost of Satisfying Fruit and Vegetable Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines

Most Americans do not consume enough fruits and vegetables to meet recommendations in the  2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. One reason may be that some consumers perceive these foods to be expensive. Researchers estimate the average price at retail stores of a pound and an edible cup-equivalent (or for juices, a pint and an edible cup-equivalent) of 156 commonly consumed fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and find that in 2013, a consumer on a 2,000-calorie diet could satisfy Federal fruit and vegetable recommendations for $2.10 to $2.60 per day.

The study also found that a family of four could purchase a sufficient variety of fruits and vegetables to meet those same guidelines with a limited budget, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). However, this would require the household to allocate a much larger share of its overall food budget to fruits and vegetables and a smaller share to foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and sodium.

For the full report click this link: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eb-economic-brief/eb27.aspx

USDA Economic Research Service, Authors: Hayden Stewart, Jeffrey Hyman, Andrea Carlson, and Elizabeth Frazão