How Expensive Are Fruits and Vegetables?

How Expensive Are Fruits andVegetables?

Prices for fruits and vegetables—in fresh and processed forms—varywidely. Fruit prices ranged from 32 cents per pound for fresh watermelon to$4.00 per pound for prunes. Among vegetables, prices ranged from 31 centsper pound for fresh potatoes to $4.57 per pound for frozen asparagus spears.

Purchase Price Versus Serving Price - Fruit

Among the 25 different types of fresh fruit, prices ranged from 32 cents perpound for watermelon to $3.94 per pound for blackberries, with a weighted-average price of 71 cents per pound and a median price of 97 cents (fig. 1a).Only grapefruit, bananas, and the three types of melons cost less than theweighted-average price. However, these five fruits accounted for 56 percentof fresh fruit pounds purchased in 1999.

11How Much Do Americans Pay for Fruits and Vegetables / AIB-790

Economic Research Service/USDA

How much does fresh fruit cost to buy?Figure 1a

Dollars per pound

Source: ACNielsen Homescan, 1999.

The weighted average price for all fresh fruit was $0.71 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $3.62 per pound.

Watemelon

Bananas

Grapefruit

Cantaloupe

Honeydew

Oranges

Papaya

Mangoes

Apples

Pears

Kiwi

Tangelos

Peaches

Tangerines

Nectarines

Avocados

Plums

Grapes

Pineapple

Strawberries

Apricots

Blueberries

Cherries

Raspberries

Blackberries

0.32

0.45

0.55

0.61

0.67

0.74

0.75

0.77

0.83

0.88

0.90

0.96

0.97

1.00

1.03

1.03

1.16

1.28

1.43

1.47

1.48

1.52

1.70

3.87

3.94

After adjusting for waste and serving size (because a pound providesanywhere from 2 to 14 servings), the price per serving for fresh fruits dropsto a range of 11 cents a serving for apples and watermelon to 66 cents aserving for blackberries (fig. 1b). Almost two-thirds of the fresh fruits, 16out of 25, cost 25 cents or less per serving, and only 2 of the 25 cost morethan 50 cents per serving. The weighted-average price per serving for allfresh fruits was 18 cents per serving. Due to their very low serving yield perpound, oranges and honeydew were among the top 10 most expensive fruitsper serving, despite being among the 10 least expensive fresh fruits at retail.

The sample included 16 different types and forms of canned fruit, includingtwo types of canned cherries. Prices for canned fruit ranged from 66 centsfor a pound of unsweetened applesauce to $2.71 for a pound of cannedblackberries, with a weighted-average price of 90 cents per pound (fig. 2a).As with fresh fruit, only three canned fruits cost less than the weighted-average price, but they accounted for over 70 percent of total cannedpurchases. Three-fourths of the canned fruits (12 out of 16) cost less than



How much does fresh fruit cost to eat?Figure 1b

Dollar per serving

Source: ACNielsen Homescan, 1999. Converted to servings using factors obtained from The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, revised November 2001.

The weighted average price for all fresh fruit was $0.18 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.56 per serving.

Watermelon

Apples

Papayas

Grapefruit

Bananas

Nectarines

Mangoes

Pears

Peaches

Kiwi

Cantaloupe

Plums

Grapes

Blueberries

Avocados

Apricots

Tangerines

Honeydew

Strawberries

Tangelos

Cherries

Oranges

Pineapple

Raspberries

Blackberries

0.11

0.11

0.17

0.17

0.17

0.19

0.20

0.21

0.21

0.21

0.21

0.23

0.24

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.26

0.27

0.28

0.29

0.40

0.42

0.45

0.64

0.66

Almost two-thirds of

the fresh fruits, 16 out

of 25, cost 25 cents or

less per serving

$2.00 per pound. Canned fruits ranged in price from 19 cents per serving forunsweetened applesauce to 92 cents for canned blackberries (fig. 2b). Eventhough only 5 of the 16 canned fruits were priced at 25 cents or less perserving, the weighted-average price for all canned fruit was 24 cents perserving. This was due to the high volume of less expensive canned fruit(canned apples/applesauce, pineapples, peaches, and pears).

Our nine different types of frozen fruits ranged in price from $1.24 for apound of frozen papaya to $3.39 for a pound of frozen raspberries, with aweighted-average price of $2.04 per pound (fig. 3a). Four of the nine typesof frozen fruit were below the weighted-average price and five were above.The four cheapest frozen fruits accounted for nearly three quarters of allfrozen fruit purchased. Frozen fruit are the most expensive form of fruits byserving, with a weighted-average price of 51 cents per serving (fig. 3b).Interestingly, frozen raspberries, the most expensive frozen fruit to buy,dropped to fifth cheapest to eat, at 54 cents per serving.

Counting shelf-stable, refrigerated, and frozen versions for each of the sevenfruit juices separately, prices for the 15 items ranged from 36 cents per pintfor unsweetened, frozen apple juice to 74 cents per pint for shelf-stablecranberry juice, with a weighted-average price of 53 cents per pint (fig 4a).Price per serving varied little among the different fruit juices (fig. 4b), with



How much does canned fruit cost to buy?Figure 2a

Dollars per pound

1Packed in juice or water. 2Unsweetened/unflavored.


The weighted average price for all canned fruit was $0.90 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $2.05 per pound.

Applesauce2

Apples2

Pineapple1

Peaches1

Pears1

Oranges, mandarin1

Strawberries

Mangoes

Apricots1

Cherries, tart1

Grapefruit1

Cherries, sweet

Blueberries

Papaya

Raspberries

Blackberries

0.66

0.77

0.82

0.93

0.95

1.25

1.26

1.31

1.34

1.82

1.96

1.96

2.03

2.12

2.69

2.71



How much does canned fruit cost to eat?Figure 2b

Dollar per serving


The weighted average price for all canned fruit was $0.24 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.74 per serving.

Source: ACNielsen Homescan data, 1999. Converted to servings using factors obtained from The Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, revised November 2001.

Applesauce2

Apples2

Pineapple1

Pears1

Peaches1

Oranges, mandarin1

Mangoes

Apricots1

Strawberries

Grapefruit1

Papaya

Cherries, tart1

Cherries, sweet

Raspberries

Blueberries

Blackberries

0.19

0.20

0.22

0.25

0.25

0.34

0.34

0.37

0.43

0.52

0.56

0.63

0.68

0.69

0.69

0.92

How much does frozen fruit cost to buy?Figure 3a

Dollars per pound for unsweetened frozen fruits

The weighted average price for all unsweetened frozen fruit was $2.04 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $2.14 per pound.

Source: ACNielsen Homescan data, 1999.

Papaya

Mangoes

Strawberries

Peaches

Cherries, tart

Blueberries

Cherries, sweet

Blackberries

Raspberries

1.24

1.41

1.72

1.99

2.05

2.73

2.97

2.97

3.39

$2.00 per pound. Canned fruits ranged in price from 19 cents per serving forunsweetened applesauce to 92 cents for canned blackberries (fig. 2b). Eventhough only 5 of the 16 canned fruits were priced at 25 cents or less perserving, the weighted-average price for all canned fruit was 24 cents perserving. This was due to the high volume of less expensive canned fruit(canned apples/applesauce, pineapples, peaches, and pears).

Our nine different types of frozen fruits ranged in price from $1.24 for apound of frozen papaya to $3.39 for a pound of frozen raspberries, with aweighted-average price of $2.04 per pound (fig. 3a). Four of the nine typesof frozen fruit were below the weighted-average price and five were above.The four cheapest frozen fruits accounted for nearly three quarters of allfrozen fruit purchased. Frozen fruit are the most expensive form of fruits byserving, with a weighted-average price of 51 cents per serving (fig. 3b).Interestingly, frozen raspberries, the most expensive frozen fruit to buy,dropped to fifth cheapest to eat, at 54 cents per serving.

Counting shelf-stable, refrigerated, and frozen versions for each of the sevenfruit juices separately, prices for the 15 items ranged from 36 cents per pintfor unsweetened, frozen apple juice to 74 cents per pint for shelf-stablecranberry juice, with a weighted-average price of 53 cents per pint (fig 4a).Price per serving varied little among the different fruit juices (fig. 4b), with



How much does canned fruit cost to buy?Figure 2a

Dollars per pound



The weighted average price for all canned fruit was $0.90 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $2.05 per pound.

Applesauce2

Apples2

Pineapple1

Peaches1

Pears1

Oranges, mandarin1

Strawberries

Mangoes

Apricots1

Cherries, tart1

Grapefruit1

Cherries, sweet

Blueberries

Papaya

Raspberries

Blackberries

0.66

0.77

0.82

0.93

0.95

1.25

1.26

1.31

1.34

1.82

1.96

1.96

2.03

2.12

2.69

2.71

frozen apple juice (13 cents a serving) the cheapest and cranberry juice (28cents) the most expensive. The weighted-average price for all unsweetenedfruit juice was 20 cents per serving.

Retail prices for the four types of dried fruit included in our sample rangedfrom $2.01 per pound for raisins to $4.00 per pound for prunes, with aweighted-average price of $3.07 (fig. 5a). However, retail prices for driedfruit are deceiving. Because the serving size for dried fruit is much smallerthan the serving size for other fruits (¼ cup versus ½ cup for other fruit and¾ cup for juice), the cost per serving becomes reasonable, ranging from 16cents per serving for raisins to 38 cents for prunes (fig. 5b). This is cheaperthan the price per serving for most canned and all frozen fruits.

In summary, although retail prices for fruits might appear high on a per-pound basis, few people may realize that a pound provides 3-5 servings formost fruits. Therefore, the price per serving is considerably lower. In 1999,it was possible to eat a serving of any of the 69 forms of fruits included inour analysis for less than a dollar. In fact, 37 of the fruit items cost 25 centsor less per serving, 54 items cost under 50 cents, and only 2 of the 69 fruititems cost more than 75 cents per serving.



How much does juice cost to drink?Figure 4b

Dollar per serving for unsweetened fruit juices


The weighted averageprice for all fruit juice was $0.20 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.14 per serving.

Apple, fz., reconstituted

Grapefruit, fz. reconstituted

Orange, fz., reconstituted

Apple, shelf stable

Apple, refrigerated

Grapefruit, shelf stable

Pineapple, shelf stable

Grape, fz., reconstituted

Orange, shelf stable

Grapefruit, refrigerated

Orange, refrigerated

Prune, shelf stable

Orange, fz., not concentrate

Grape, shelf stable

Cranberry, shelf stable

0.13

0.14

0.15

0.15

0.16

0.19

0.19

0.20

0.21

0.22

0.22

0.23

0.24

0.25

0.28

It was possible to eat a

serving of any of the 69

forms of fruits included

in our analysis for less

than a dollar.

Purchase Price Versus Serving Price - Vegetables

Among the 35 fresh vegetable items included in the analysis, retail pricesranged from 31 cents per pound for potatoes to $2.97 per pound for fresh,sliced mushrooms (fig. 6a). The weighted-average price for all fresh vegeta-bles was 64 cents per pound. Only 5 of the 35 fresh vegetables were pricedbelow the weighted-average price, 12 were priced below $1.00 per pound,and all but 3 cost less than $2.00 per pound. The five cheapest vegetables—potatoes, cabbage, whole carrots, onions, and sweet potatoes—accountedfor 62 percent of all fresh vegetable purchases by weight.

Per serving, prices ranged from 4 cents for cabbage to 91 cents for shelledgreen peas, with a weighted-average price of 12 cents per serving (fig. 6b).More than two-thirds of the 35 fresh vegetables cost 25 cents or less per



How much does dried fruit cost to buy?Figure 5a

Dollars per pound

The weighted average price for all dried fruit was $3.07 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $2.00 per pound.


Raisins

Apricots

Figs

Prunes

2.01

2.53

3.71

4.00

How much does dried fruit cost to eat?Figure 5b

Dollar per serving

The weighted average price for dried fruit was $0.27 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.22 per serving.


Raisins

Apricots

Figs

Prunes

0.16

0.22

0.36

0.38



How much do fresh vegeables cost to buy?Figure 6a

Dollars per pound


The weighted average price for all fresh vegetables was $0.64per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $2.67 per pound.

Potatoes

Cabbage

Carrots, whole

Onions

Sweetpotatoes

Cucumbers

Lettuce, iceberg

Celery

Radishes

Sweet corn

Broccoli, regular

Eggplant

Broccoli, fleurets

Tomatoes, plum

Lettuce, leaf

Green beans

Cauliflower, head

Bell peppers

Lettuce, Romaine

Tomatoes, regular

Brussels sprouts

Carrots, baby

Spinach

Squash, zucchini

Cauliflower, fleurets

Kale

Mustard greens

Asparagus

Turnip greens

Okra

Green peas

Tomatoes, cherry

Mushrooms, whole

Collard greens

Mushrooms, sliced

0.31

0.38

0.54

0.55

0.60

0.75

0.78

0.80

0.81

0.86

0.88

0.97

1.02

1.04

1.06

1.07

1.08

1.11

1.17

1.21

1.25

1.28

1.35

1.42

1.48

1.51

1.63

1.67

1.68

1.69

1.83

1.87

2.33

2.92

2.97



How much do fresh vegeables cost to eat?Figure 6b

Dollar per serving


The weighted average price for all fresh vegetables was $0.12 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.87 per serving.

Cabbage

Potatoes

Broccoli, fleurets

Carrots, whole

Radishes

Onions

Cucumbers

Mustard greens

Celery

Bell peppers

Lettuce, Romaine

Lettuce, iceberg

Cauliflower, fleuretsKale

Cauliflower, head

Sweetpotatoes

Broccoli, regular

Lettuce, leaf

Green beans

Carrots, baby

Spinach

Tomatoes, regular

Tomatoes, plum

Squash, zucchini

Mushrooms, whole

Eggplant

Brussels sprouts

Tomatoes, cherry

Mushrooms, slicedOkra

Turnip greens

Sweet corn

Collard greens

Asparagus

Green peas

0.04

0.06

0.07

0.10

0.11

0.12

0.12

0.13

0.13

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.16

0.17

0.17

0.18

0.18

0.19

0.19

0.20

0.21

0.23

0.24

0.24

0.25

0.29

0.29

0.31

0.32

0.38

0.52

0.52

0.56

0.70

0.91

serving. A salad containing one cup of fresh Romaine lettuce leaves, ¼ cup ofsliced onions, ½ cup of cucumbers, and ¼ cup of sliced carrots costs a total of43 cents and provides 3 FGP servings. For an additional 50 cents, you couldadd a serving each of tomatoes and mushrooms.

Among the 25 plain/regular canned vegetable items, retail prices rangedfrom 49 cents per pound for canned, sliced green beans to $4.41 per poundfor canned, whole mushrooms (fig. 7a). The weighted-average price for allcanned vegetable items was 60 cents per pound. Only 6 of the 25 cannedvegetables priced below the weighted-average price, although 15 priced ator below 75 cents per pound. Only mushrooms (three types) were pricedabove $2.00 per pound. As with fresh vegetables, the canned vegetablespriced below the weighted-average price accounted for a majority of soldweight (85 percent).

Per serving, plain/regular canned vegetables ranged from 12 cents a servingfor canned, sliced green beans to 76 cents for canned, whole mushrooms, with



How much do canned vegetables cost to buy?Figure 7a

Dollars per pound for plain/regular, canned vegetables


The weighted average price for all plain/regular canned vegetables was $0.60 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $3.92 per pound.

Green beans, sliced

Sweet corn

Potatoes

Carrots, sliced

Green peas

Tomatoes

Spinach

Mustard greens

Turnip greens

Sweetpotatoes

Cabbage, sauerkraut

Beets

Kale

Collard greens

Green beans, whole

Squash

Carrots, whole

Okra

Asparagus, cut/tips

Onions

Brussels sprouts

Asparagus, spears

Mushrooms, pieces

Mushrooms, sliced

Mushrooms, whole

0.49

0.51

0.52

0.52

0.54

0.59

0.62

0.62

0.63

0.63

0.65

0.65

0.68

0.71

0.75

0.98

1.07

1.25

1.33

1.35

1.38

1.95

2.11

4.04

4.41

A salad containing one

cup of fresh Romaine

lettuce leaves, ¼ cup

of sliced onions, ½ cup

of cucumbers, and ¼

cup of sliced carrots

costs a total of 43

cents and provides 3

FGP servings.

a weighted-average price of 17 cents per serving (fig. 7b). The cost perserving was less than 25 cents for 11 of the 25 canned vegetables and lessthan 50 cents for 20 of the 25 canned vegetables. Consumers who believe thatcanned vegetables are the best bargain might be surprised that they can save81 cents on their homemade pizza by using a serving each of fresh onions andfresh, sliced mushrooms rather than a serving each of the canned equivalents.

Among the 23 plain/regular frozen vegetable items, prices ranged from 89cents per pound for frozen onions (pearl onions) to $4.57 per pound forwhole, frozen asparagus, with a weighted-average price of $1.11 (fig. 8a).Approximately one-third of the frozen vegetables were at or below theweighted-average price, and they accounted for almost three-quarters offrozen vegetables by sales volume.

Per serving, prices ranged from 17 cents for frozen, cut green beans to 85cents for frozen, whole asparagus, with a weighted-average price of 22



How much do canned vegetables cost to eat?Figure 7b

Dollar per serving for plain/regular, canned vegetables


The weighted average price for all plain/regular canned vegetables was $0.17 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.64 per serving.

Green beans, sliced

Tomatoes

Potatoes

Sweet corn

Carrots, sliced

Peas

Green beans, whole

Kale

Beets

Sweetpotatoes

Cabbage, sauerkraut

Brussels sprouts

Turnip greens

Mustard greens

Spinach

Carrots, whole

Collard greens

Mushrooms, pieces

Okra

Squash

Asparagus, cut/tips

Onions

Asparagus, spears

Mushrooms, sliced

Mushrooms, whole

0.12

0.16

0.16

0.17

0.17

0.18

0.18

0.21

0.23

0.24

0.24

0.27

0.28

0.29

0.30

0.34

0.35

0.36

0.40

0.49

0.53

0.55

0.59

0.70

0.76

Consumers who

believe that canned

vegetables are the best

bargain might be sur-

prised that they can

save 81 cents on their

homemade pizza by

using fresh onions and

fresh, sliced mush-

rooms rather than the

canned equivalents.

cents (fig. 8b). This was nearly twice the average cost of a serving of freshvegetables, and a nickel more than a serving of canned vegetables. Allfrozen vegetables, except asparagus, cost less than 50 cents a serving.Without asparagus, there is only a 30-cent difference between the leastand most expensive vegetable. A serving of frozen sweet corn was 33cents cheaper per serving than fresh corn on the cob. On the other hand, aserving of frozen spinach was 20 cents more expensive than a serving offresh spinach.

In summary, whether fresh, frozen, or canned, all 85 of the vegetables wepriced were less than a dollar per serving, only three cost more than 75cents a serving, and more than half were less than a quarter.



How much do frozen vegetables cost to buy?Figure 8a

Dollars per pound for plain/regular frozen vegetables


The weighted average price for all plain/regular frozen vegetables was $1.11 per pound and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $3.68 per pound.

Onions, pearl

Green peas

Green beans, cut

Sweet corn

Collard greens

Broccoli, chopped

Kale

Spinach

Cauliflower, cut

Carrots

Mustard greens

Turnip greens

Squash, zucchini

Okra

Broccoli, spears


Sweetpotatoes

Broccoli, fleurets

Green beans, whole

Potatoes

Asparagus, cut/tips

Mushrooms

Asparagus, spears

0.89

0.97

1.00

1.03

1.06

1.08

1.11

1.15

1.16

1.16

1.19

1.20

1.28

1.34

1.35

1.41

1.42

1.53

1.70

1.87

2.83

2.85

4.57



How much do frozen vegetables cost to eat?Figure 8b

Dollar per serving for plain/regular frozen vegetables


The weighted average price for all plain/regular frozen vegetables was $0.22 per serving and the price difference between the most and least expensive item was $0.68 per serving.

Green beans, cut

Kale

Sweet corn

Green peas

Mustard greens

Onions, pearl

Broccoli, chopped

Collard greens

Carrots

Turnip greens

Cauliflower, cut

Broccoli, spears

Okra

Broccoli, fleurets


Sweetpotatoes

Green beans, whole

Squash, zucchini

Potatoes

Spinach

Mushrooms

Asparagus, cut/tips

Asparagus, spears

0.17

0.18

0.19

0.20

0.20

0.22

0.22

0.23

0.23

0.25

0.25

0.25

0.26

0.28

0.31

0.31

0.32

0.37

0.37

0.41

0.47

0.70

0.85

How Expensive Are Fruits and Vegetables?

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