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Neighbourhood deprivation and the price and availability of fruit and vegetables in Scotland

Neighbourhood deprivation and the price and availability of fruit and vegetables in Scotland
Neighbourhood deprivation and the price and availability of fruit and vegetables in Scotland

Background:? Previous research has suggested that fruits and vegetables are more expensive and less readily available in more deprived communities. However, this evidence is mainly based on small samples drawn from specific communities often located in urban settings and thus is not generalisable to national contexts. The present study explores the influence of neighbourhood deprivation and local retail structure on the price and availability of fruit and vegetables in a sample of areas representing the diversity of urban–rural environments across Scotland, UK.


Methods:? A sample of 310 stores located in 10 diverse areas of Scotland was surveyed and data on the price and availability of a basket of 15 fruit and vegetable items were collected. The data were analysed to identify the influence of store type and neighbourhood deprivation on the price and availability of fruits and vegetables.


Results:? Neighbourhood deprivation and store type did not significantly predict the price of a basket of fruit and vegetables within the sample, although baskets did decrease in price as store size increased. The highest prices were found in the smallest stores located in the most deprived areas. Availability of fruit and vegetables is lower in small shops located within deprived neighbourhoods compared to similar shops in affluent areas. Overall, availability increases with increasing store size.


Conclusions:? Availability of fruit and vegetables significantly varies by neighbourhood deprivation in small stores. Policies aimed at promoting sales of fruit and vegetable in these outlets may benefit residents in deprived areas.
0952-3871
494-501
Cummins, S.
d4b26eb6-881f-452f-983e-974548b4dd4e
Smith, Dianna
e859097c-f9f5-4fd0-8b07-59218648e726
Aitken, Z.
6fb8f810-3d31-46a5-a010-db23a725812c
Dawson, J.
b8850362-e1fa-4041-8a34-d6990ecb695d
Marshall, D.
0507f47f-9a53-48fe-8399-8ddc4ee97523
Sparks, L.
c28d1084-6475-4b99-9b85-2559f9e3cf11
Anderson, A. S.
ec375dd8-8620-48fb-999c-48a26d4bb03a
Cummins, S.
d4b26eb6-881f-452f-983e-974548b4dd4e
Smith, Dianna
e859097c-f9f5-4fd0-8b07-59218648e726
Aitken, Z.
6fb8f810-3d31-46a5-a010-db23a725812c
Dawson, J.
b8850362-e1fa-4041-8a34-d6990ecb695d
Marshall, D.
0507f47f-9a53-48fe-8399-8ddc4ee97523
Sparks, L.
c28d1084-6475-4b99-9b85-2559f9e3cf11
Anderson, A. S.
ec375dd8-8620-48fb-999c-48a26d4bb03a

Cummins, S., Smith, Dianna, Aitken, Z., Dawson, J., Marshall, D., Sparks, L. and Anderson, A. S. (2010) Neighbourhood deprivation and the price and availability of fruit and vegetables in Scotland. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 23 (5), 494-501. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01071.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract


Background:? Previous research has suggested that fruits and vegetables are more expensive and less readily available in more deprived communities. However, this evidence is mainly based on small samples drawn from specific communities often located in urban settings and thus is not generalisable to national contexts. The present study explores the influence of neighbourhood deprivation and local retail structure on the price and availability of fruit and vegetables in a sample of areas representing the diversity of urban–rural environments across Scotland, UK.


Methods:? A sample of 310 stores located in 10 diverse areas of Scotland was surveyed and data on the price and availability of a basket of 15 fruit and vegetable items were collected. The data were analysed to identify the influence of store type and neighbourhood deprivation on the price and availability of fruits and vegetables.


Results:? Neighbourhood deprivation and store type did not significantly predict the price of a basket of fruit and vegetables within the sample, although baskets did decrease in price as store size increased. The highest prices were found in the smallest stores located in the most deprived areas. Availability of fruit and vegetables is lower in small shops located within deprived neighbourhoods compared to similar shops in affluent areas. Overall, availability increases with increasing store size.


Conclusions:? Availability of fruit and vegetables significantly varies by neighbourhood deprivation in small stores. Policies aimed at promoting sales of fruit and vegetable in these outlets may benefit residents in deprived areas.

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More information

Published date: 6 May 2010
Organisations: Population, Health & Wellbeing (PHeW)

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 382512
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/382512
ISSN: 0952-3871
PURE UUID: f928e668-caeb-47cc-aeba-089862e8ded7
ORCID for Dianna Smith: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0650-6606

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Date deposited: 27 Oct 2015 14:42
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:53

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Contributors

Author: S. Cummins
Author: Dianna Smith ORCID iD
Author: Z. Aitken
Author: J. Dawson
Author: D. Marshall
Author: L. Sparks
Author: A. S. Anderson

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