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Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods

Author

Listed:
  • Todd, Jessica E.
  • Leibtag, Ephraim S.
  • Penberthy, Corttney
Abstract
Although healthy foods can be affordable, if less healthy foods are cheaper, individuals may have an economic incentive to consume a less healthful diet. Using the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database, we explore whether a select set of healthy foods (whole grains, dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, whole fruit, skim and 1% milk, fruit juice, and bottled water) are more expensive than less healthy alternatives. We find that not all healthy foods are more expensive than less healthy alternatives; skim and 1% milk are less expensive than whole and 2% milk and bottled water is generally less expensive than carbonated nonalcoholic drinks. We also find considerable geographic variation in the relative price of healthy foods. This price variation may contribute to geographic variation in diet and health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd, Jessica E. & Leibtag, Ephraim S. & Penberthy, Corttney, 2011. "Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods," Economic Information Bulletin 117976, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersib:117976
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.117976
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kuchler, Fred & Stewart, Hayden, 2008. "Price Trends Are Similar for Fruits, Vegetables, and Snack Foods," Economic Research Report 56447, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Todd, Jessica E. & Leibtag, Ephraim S., 2010. "New Database Shows Substantial Geographic Food Price Variation," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, pages 1-2.
    3. Todd, Jessica E. & Mancino, Lisa & Leibtag, Ephraim S. & Tripodo, Christina, 2010. "Methodology Behind the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database," Technical Bulletins 97799, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    4. Smith, Travis A. & Biing-Hwan, Lin & Lee, Jonq-Ying, 2010. "Taxing Caloric Sweetened Beverages: Potential Effects on Beverage Consumption, Calorie Intake, and Obesity," Economic Research Report 95465, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    5. Mancino, Lisa & Kuchler, Fred & Leibtag, Ephraim, 2008. "Getting consumers to eat more whole-grains: The role of policy, information, and food manufacturers," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 489-496, December.
    6. Chen Zhen & Justin L. Taylor & Mary K. Muth & Ephraim Leibtag, 2009. "Understanding Differences in Self-Reported Expenditures between Household Scanner Data and Diary Survey Data: A Comparison of Homescan and Consumer Expenditure Survey," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 31(3), pages 470-492, September.
    7. Guthrie, Joanne F. & Lin, Biing-Hwan & Reed, Jane & Stewart, Hayden, 2005. "Understanding Economic and Behavioral Influences on Fruit and Vegetable Choices," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, pages 1-6, April.
    8. Todd, Jessica E. & Mancino, Lisa & Leibtag, Ephraim S. & Tripodo, Christina, 2010. "Methodology Behind Quarterly Food- at- Home Price Database," Technical Bulletins 184309, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chang, Yunhee & Adams, Rachel & Carithers, Teresa C. & Ruetzler, Tanya, 2014. "Do Grocery Store Personnel's Perceptions, Attitudes, and Knowledge Determine Availability of Organic Food Products?," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 45(2), pages 1-25, July.
    2. Davis, George C., 2021. "The Implicit Hidden Reductions in the SNAP Benefit Formula: A Unifying Framework for Analysis and Policy Debates," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313993, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Christensen, Garret & Bronchetti, Erin Todd, 2020. "Local food prices and the purchasing power of SNAP benefits," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Tiehen, Laura & Newman, Constance & Kirlin, John A., 2017. "The Food-Spending Patterns of Households Participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Findings From USDA's FoodAPS," Economic Information Bulletin 262461, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    5. Carlson, Andrea & Dong, Diansheng & Lino, Mark, 2014. "Association between Total Diet Cost and Diet Quality Is Limited," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 39(1), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Carlson, Andrea & Frazao, Elizabeth, 2012. "Are Healthy Foods Really More Expensive? It Depends on How You Measure the Price," Economic Information Bulletin 142357, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    7. Qingxiao Li & Metin Çakır, 2024. "Estimating SNAP purchasing power and its effect on participation," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 106(2), pages 779-804, March.
    8. Davis, George C. & You, Wen & Yang, Yanliang, 2020. "Are SNAP benefits adequate? A geographical and food expenditure decomposition," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    9. Bronchetti, Erin T. & Christensen, Garret & Hoynes, Hilary W., 2019. "Local food prices, SNAP purchasing power, and child health," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    10. Sweitzer, Megan & Byrne, Anne T. & Page, Elina T. & Carlson, Andrea & Kantor, Linda & Muth, Mary K. & Karns, Shawn & Zhen, Chen, 2024. "Development of the Food-at-Home Monthly Area Prices Data," Technical Bulletins 342467, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    11. Kumcu, Aylin & Okrent, Abigail M ., 2014. "Methodology for the Quarterly Food-Away-From-Home Prices Data," Technical Bulletins 184292, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    12. Robinson, Courtney N. & Baker, Gregory A. & Harwood, Michael J. & Diekmann, Lucy O., 2020. "Food expenditures and consumption by food bank clients in Silicon Valley," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 23(4), June.
    13. Wendt, Minh & Todd, Jessica E., 2011. "The Effect of Food and Beverage Prices on Children's Weights," Economic Research Report 134705, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    14. Newman, Constance, 2012. "The Food Costs of Healthier School Lunches," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 41(1), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Elina T Page & Elizabeth Larimore & John A Kirlin & Mark Denbaly, 2019. "The National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey: Innovations and Research Insights," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(2), pages 215-234, June.
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    17. Dong, Zefeng & Jaenicke, Edward C. & Kuhns, Annemarie, 2018. "The Effects of Exogenous Changes in Food Environment on Households’ Healthfulness of Food Purchases," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273910, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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