We often hear that fruits and vegetables are expensive, or that it costs more to eat well. Moreover, 51% of people whose consumption of fruits and vegetables is not sufficient justify it by the price⁽¹⁾. So received idea or not?

More than 90% of French people surveyed say they pay attention to the price when shopping⁽²⁾. However, it is clear that we do not always make the right comparisons. Indeed, if we think that fruits and vegetables are more expensive than other foods, it is above all because their price is per kilo. Most other food products are sold in jars, packets or individually. Therefore, it makes the comparison difficult. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that one kilo of vegetables can feed up to 5 people.

Given the specific characteristics of most fresh fruits and vegetables (fragile, perishable, hardly storable products) and their sensitivity to the weather, their prices are particularly impacted by the law of supply (volumes of products available) and the availability of products. demand (consumption). Thus we generally observe price fluctuations depending on the season (production and marketing calendar): when the supply is scarce, prices are higher, then when volumes become more abundant they then lead to a fall in prices.

If seasonality is announced by 55% of French people questioned as being the major criterion for choosing plants⁽³⁾, consuming in season in practice is not always easy. To help you integrate the principle of seasonality, here is a summary of the main fruits and vegetables by season:

• Spring: artichoke, cucumber, strawberry radish, asparagus
• Summer: melon, zucchini, tomato, pepper, watermelon
• Autumn: pumpkin, leek, pear, apple
• Winter: endive, cabbage, kiwi, clementine

To find good deals and consume fruits and vegetables at a lower cost, vary the places and forms of purchase. Depending on the season, local producers, market stalls and even supermarket shelves are full of good deals. 

To buy smart and at a lower cost, it may be wise to plan your consumption by establishing your menus in advance. Indeed, this allows you to buy the right quantity according to the number of people at the table and thus avoid food waste. The upstream organization also makes it possible to choose fruits and vegetables at different stages of ripening depending on the expected date of consumption and thus to enjoy even tastier meals.

According to a recent study, 88% of respondents consider organic products to be too expensive⁽⁴⁾. Indeed, behind this survey hides a reality: fruits and vegetables from organic farming are on average 30 to 40% more expensive than those from conventional farming. This additional cost can be explained quite simply. On the one hand, to produce organic, many operations such as weeding or collecting are done by hand. As a result, it increases the production time and the labor cost. In addition, producers of organic products are subject to more losses and therefore have a lower yield. Finally, organic certification by an independent label is chargeable, expensive and compulsory.

[1] FranceAgriMer, study “Fruit and vegetable consumption practices and habits”, Reasons for low fruit consumption, December 2015

[2] FranceAgriMer, study “Fruit and vegetable consumption practices and habits”, Level of attention paid to prices, December 2015

[3] FranceAgriMer, study “Fruit and vegetable consumption practices and habits, Important criteria in the choice of fruits and vegetables, December 2015

[4] Statista study, Set of reasons preventing the French from consuming organic products, 2017