How much do fruits and vegetables cost?

As written in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Information Bulletin, federal dietary guidance advises Americans to consume more vegetables and fruits because most Americans do not consume the recommended quantities or variety. Food prices, along with taste, convenience, income and awareness of the link between diet and health, shape food choices.

The USDA's research used the 2008 Nielsen Homescan data to 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 153 commonly consumed fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.

According the research, average prices ranged from less than 20 cents per edible cup equivalent to more than $2 per edible cup equivalent. In 2008, an adult on a 2,000 calorie diet could satisfy recommendations for vegetable and fruit consumption in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (amounts and variety) at an average price of $2 per day, or approximately 50 cents per edible cup equivalent.

The lowest average price for any of the 59 fresh and processed fruits included in the study was for fresh watermelon and the highest average price was for fresh raspberries. The lowest average price for any of the 94 fresh and processed vegetables, beans and peas included in the study was for dry pinto beans and the highest average price was for frozen asparagus cuts and tips.

Processed fruits and vegetables were not consistently more or less expensive than fresh produce. Retail prices per pound often varied substantially from prices per edible cup equivalent.