New Releases

Paying for Fruits and Vegetables

Americans do not eat the recommended levels of fruits and vegetables. One argument is that they are expensive, especially when purchased fresh. Using 1999 ACNielsen Homescan data, ERS researchers recently analyzed serving costs of over 150 forms of fruits and vegetables and found that consumers can eat the recommended three servings of fruits and four servings of vegetables daily for 64 cents. This finding and others are presented in a new report, How Much Do Americans Pay for Fruits and Vegetables? (AIB-790).

Effects of Animal Diseases on Trade

Disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions have slowed previously expected high growth in many U.S. animal product exports, with U.S. beef exports most affected. A recent ERS report—U.S. 2003 and 2004 Livestock and Poultry Trade Influenced by Animal Disease and Trade Restrictions (LDPM-120-01)— discusses how animal diseases and disease-related trade restrictions have influenced trade in animal products in the past few years, with an emphasis on 2003 and forecasts for 2004.