Healthy Environments Research Programme, Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2010 Oct;23(5):494-501. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01071.x.
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.
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.
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.
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.
先前的研究表明，在贫困社区，水果和蔬菜的价格更高，供应也更不足。然而，这些证据主要基于从小样本中抽取的，且这些样本通常来自于城市地区的特定社区，因此不能推广到全国范围内。本研究探讨了在苏格兰不同城乡环境的 10 个多样化地区的样本中，社区贫困程度和当地零售结构对水果和蔬菜价格及供应的影响。
对苏格兰 10 个不同地区的 310 家商店进行了调查，并收集了 15 种水果和蔬菜篮子价格和供应的数据。对数据进行了分析，以确定商店类型和社区贫困程度对水果和蔬菜价格和供应的影响。
尽管随着商店规模的增加，篮子的价格会下降，但社区贫困程度和商店类型对样本中一篮子水果和蔬菜的价格没有显著影响。在最小的商店里，价格最高，而这些商店位于最贫困的地区。与富裕地区的类似商店相比，位于贫困社区的小商店的水果和蔬菜供应较少。总体而言，供应随着商店规模的增加而增加。
在小商店中，水果和蔬菜的供应情况因社区贫困程度的不同而显著不同。旨在促进这些销售点销售水果和蔬菜的政策可能会使贫困地区的居民受益。
