Fruits and Vegetables: Eat Less, Pay More

Nutritionists are always telling everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables. You might think this would be harder to do when the economy goes bad, and you would be right.

The United Fresh Research and Education Foundation, an arm of the produce industry, keeps track of such things. Its latest report makes interesting, if depressing, reading. People bought about 3 percent less produce in 2008 than they did in 2007, but paid about 2 percent more for that smaller amount. No wonder people are complaining that they can't afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't we need to do something about this?