An August 1 AP article by J.M. Hirsch quotes ACSH's Dr. Ruth Kava and notes that fruits and vegetables aren't all that expensive, despite people frequently claiming that cost prevents them from consuming these items (and as ACSH's Jeff Stier has said, the low cost of fruits and vegetables undermines NYU nutrition activist Marion Nestle's argument that obesity is caused by the dangerously low price of fast food):
A government study found that though many people say cost prevents them from eating more produce, consumers can get the recommended three servings of fruits and four servings of vegetables daily for just 64 cents ¦Ruth Kava of the American Council of Science and Health cautions against assuming price perception is the primary impediment to produce consumption. She said access plays a significant role in determining what people eat.
Many experts note that poor and rural neighborhoods often lack good access to supermarkets, forcing residents to rely on convenience stores and other small shops, where selection is poor and prices are high.
