BALTIMORE — Rising grocery prices are leading many Maryland families to purchase less fresh fruit and vegetables, according to a survey of 3,004 households by Advance America.
Forty percent of Maryland families said they are buying less produce on each shopping trip, compared with a national average of 34 percent. Fifty-one percent reported that their overall diet is less healthy than it was two to three years ago.
Maryland families who have not reduced their produce intake still report higher costs, spending an average of $26 more per month on fruit and vegetables than at the same time last year.
Nationally, some states have seen sharper increases. The top five states with the highest extra monthly spending on produce were North Dakota at $99 more per month, followed by Idaho at $52, and Arkansas, Georgia and New Jersey each at $44.
To manage costs over the past 12 months, families have taken several steps. Twenty percent have bought more frozen fruit or vegetables. Thirteen percent have visited multiple stores to compare prices. Nine percent have stopped buying certain fruits entirely, and another nine percent have purchased more canned produce. Six percent have chosen cheaper processed foods instead of fresh options, while four percent have switched to lower-quality produce. Three percent have skipped produce for themselves but continued buying it for their children.
Emotions tied to these changes are common. Forty percent of respondents said they feel frustrated, and 25 percent said they feel angry about current grocery prices. Eight percent expressed concern about their health, and three percent worried about their children’s diets.
Nearly one in three families said healthy eating now feels financially out of reach. Twenty-eight percent described healthy eating as becoming financially unrealistic for them. Another 30 percent said they still try to eat healthily but compromise more often. Only 19 percent said they continue to prioritize healthy eating no matter the cost, while 15 percent reported that grocery prices have not changed their eating habits.
Additional findings showed that 64 percent of families worry at least occasionally that their diet is less healthy because of grocery costs, with 24 percent saying they worry about this frequently. Forty-eight percent said they have been eating more processed foods because they are cheaper than fresh produce.
“Fresh fruit and vegetables should feel like basic groceries, not premium add-ons,” said Laura McCutcheon, vice president of marketing at Advance America. “When parents are skipping produce for themselves to keep buying it for their kids, that tells you everything about the kind of quiet sacrifices families are making right now.”
The survey highlights pressures facing households across Maryland, including those in Southern Maryland counties where residents shop at local stores and markets. Families seeking affordable produce options may consider local farmers markets, community programs or assistance resources available in their areas.
