According to the latest price study by French association Familles Rurales, price is the primary obstacle preventing most consumers from meeting the recommended intake of at least five fruits and vegetables a day.
Familles Rurales conducted the study in June and July, looking at eight fruits (apples, melons, apricots, cherries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines and pears) and eight vegetables (aubergines, carrots, courgettes, green beans, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and lettuces).
The study found that meeting the five-a-day target costs a family of four €115-€255 per month, a rise of 4.5 per cent compared with 2017.
Price was named as the main obstacle to reaching the target, with only one in three families meeting the recommended level.
According to the report, families rely primarily on seasonality (68 per cent), origin (59 per cent) and freshness (42 per cent) when buying fruit and vegetables.
While local producers were viewed as the most trusted, 33 per cent opt for hyper and supermarkets for their grocery shopping due to their easier access.The study revealed that 60 per cent of families would like to consume more organic food, but cannot afford it.
Hard discount retailers were shown to be 4 per cent cheaper than supermarkets and 18 per cent cheaper than markets. However, French-grown fruit and vegetables were found to be only 2 per cent more expensive than imports on average.
