French market

According to an online opinion poll entitled 'The French and Food' published yesterday by the BVA Institute, 61 per cent of French people are going without fresh fruits because they lack the financial means to consume them regularly, La Voix Du Nord has reported.

In addition, 58 per cent of those French people surveyed answered that they would consume more vegetables if their budget allowed it.

According to the report, the results can be explained in part by the difference between the actual price of fresh produce and consumers' price perception.

Consumers, it said, tend to expect fruits and vegetables to be cheap because they are a raw product.

In addition, many are reportedly put off by the perceived effort that is required, with some believing that the hard skin of a vegetable means that it will take a long time to prepare.