Cost seen as obstacle to area residents eating fresh fruits and vegetables

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100425/GPG0101/4250638/1207/gpg01/Cost-seen-as-obstacle-to-area-residents-eating-fresh-fruits--vegetables
Cost seen as obstacle to area residents eating fresh fruits, vegetables


Green Bay is small enough that it does not have what nutrition experts call food deserts — swaths of neighborhoods where people don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables
Even low-income residents often drive a car or take a bus to a store that offers a variety of such foods.
"There just isn't anything that's that far away," said Jeanne Kelley, recently hired by the Brown County Healthy Weight Coalition for Youth to coordinate a state grant that looks at access to fresh fruits and vegetables. "You can get just about anywhere in 10 minutes."
Nonetheless, many Northeastern Wisconsin residents struggle to put the carrots, spinach, apples and berries they know are good for their family's health into their grocery carts.
"It's difficult," said Amy Earley of Lena, who has three children, ages 18, 16 and 11. She usually buys fresh produce for the kids, but scrimps on such items for herself.
"I can't afford it," Earley said. "You're supposed to have how many servings of fruit and vegetables a day? I might have an apple. I'm lucky if I have one."
Earley's situation isn't unusual.
People often don't buy fruits and vegetables because they think they can't afford them, according to local nutrition experts.
The healthy weight coalition recently received a yearlong state grant to study access and availability to fresh produce.
As part of that, the coalition conducted an audit at the end of summer that located food shops, farmers markets, pantries and convenience stores on Green Bay's northeast side.
It also surveyed about 135 people in fall about where they buy fresh produce, how often they buy fruits and vegetables and what might prevent them from doing so.
If families don't buy healthy food, they may be tempted to buy junk, said Karen Early, nutrition education program coordinator at the Brown County University of Wisconsin-Extension.
The research is aimed at helping local families — regardless of background or income — make better food choices in an effort to better control the growing problem of obesity.
Driving to foodWhile stores in Green Bay's downtown area might not offer the same variety of produce as larger stores, survey participants said they could find a ride to get to the bigger stores. About 90 percent of respondents said they get to the store in their own vehicles, indicating transportation isn't a big factor in buying fruits and vegetables, according to the survey.
"That surprised us a little bit," Early said.
Larger supermarkets, located mostly in suburban areas or in the outskirts of the downtown, offer the greatest variety of fresh foods with the best quality, researchers said.
"You can walk in these places and find almost anything you can imagine," Kelley said. Some smaller grocery stores, too, offer a variety of healthy food.
Researchers found a handful of ethnic grocery stores in the downtown that offer a limited amount of vegetables. "But the quality isn't always there, probably because they don't sell as much," Kelley said.
As for small convenience stores, they found a variety of produce at Grand Central Station stores and a KwikTrip. Others offered mostly fruits canned in sugars or highly processed sandwich meats.
"Occasionally you might find a few apples or oranges on the counter, but not much more," Kelley said.
"Those places are really about snacks," Early said.
The survey determined that the location of a grocery store didn't matter to those interviewed. They typically drive to larger grocery stores or supermarkets.
About a third said they shop for fresh fruit and veggies at large supermarkets, while 13 percent shop at small grocery stores. About a fifth said they buy fresh foods at farmers markets or through Community Supported Agriculture, which is a way for consumers to buy fresh, locally grown produce directly from farmers.
Paying for produceMore than half of those who participated in the survey said they sometimes or often don't buy any fresh fruits because they cost too much. Nearly 60 percent say they at least sometimes don't buy as many fresh fruits as they'd like because of cost.
About 40 percent said they at least sometimes don't buy fresh vegetables because they're too pricey.
"Yet they don't seem to have those same concerns when it comes to the cost of a can of soda or liter of soda," Early said.
Still, some studies show there may be a difference in pricing.
Researchers at the Center for Public Health and Nutrition at the University of Washington in 2008 used a federal grant to look at 372 foods in Seattle-area supermarkets, comparing cost and calorie-density. High-calorie foods included things like peanut butter or chips, while the lowest-calorie foods were mostly healthier fruits and vegetables.
They found, based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, that diets consisting primarily of calorie-dense foods cost $3.52 a day, while a diet consisting mostly of low-calorie foods could cost $36.32. The average American spends about $7 a day on food, the survey said.
Some of those costs, however, can be offset by buying fewer of the nonessentials, such as soda, and more fresh fruits and vegetables in season that are reasonably priced, Early said.
"Think of how much food you get in a bag of carrots," she said. "Or a cabbage."
Many who took the survey voiced concerns about being wasteful, saying they worry fresh fruits or vegetables will go bad before they're eaten or that family members won't like the healthier fare.
Some local families report using food pantries to supplement their grocery supply.
Paul's Pantry, 1529 Leo Frigo Way, Green Bay, is the area's largest food provider for low-income families and individuals. In addition to food donations, the pantry visits local grocery stores seven days a week to collect unsold produce.
Mounds of broccoli, tomatoes, asparagus, oranges, cabbage and apples covered tables on Thursday.
"By the end of the day, it will be down to three or four boxes," pantry manager Angie Allard said. "Some can't afford to buy it at the store."
Linda VanPay of Green Bay added broccoli, tomatoes and asparagus to her cart Thursday.
"My husband has been unemployed for about a year and a half now," she said. "He's in construction. Hopefully he'll be back to work soon."
The family uses the pantry to supplement their grocery store purchases. They also shop at farmers markets when they're in season.
"You've got to stretch it out," VanPay said. "It can be expensive."
People might be more inclined to include fruits or vegetables in their diets if they had recipes for them, she said.
"I think some just don't have any idea what to do with it."
The coalition hopes to use information gathered from the audit and survey to form a guide for making changes.
That could include addressing fears about cost, offering examples of healthier cooking methods and working with schools, medical practitioners and the government about changing policies that might foster bad eating habits or lack of exercise. Partnerships already exist in Brown County, and Early said they hope to build on those.
"We think education is key," she said.