The State of Investments in Fruits & Vegetables report revealed a reinforcing cycle: low investment in fruits and vegetables causes compounding negative impacts across entire food systems, shaping what farmers grow, what consumers can afford, and ultimately, who has access to healthy diets. Limited R&D investment constrains improvements in productivity, seed quality, and postharvest handling. Without these gains, fruit and vegetable production remains relatively risky and costly, particularly for smallholder farmers. High postharvest losses – exceeding 30-40% in some contexts – further erode profitability, discouraging farmers from expanding production or entering horticultural markets at all.
When supply is limited and costly to produce, consumer prices remain high relative to staple crops. Fruits and vegetables become less affordable, especially for low-income households. Experts contributing to the report repeatedly emphasized affordability as the dominant constraint shaping consumer demand. When budgets are tight, households prioritize foods that maximize calories and satiety per dollar (typically grains and pulses), while fruits and vegetables are treated as discretionary.
This dynamic is compounded by weak distribution systems and seasonality. Perishability, limited cold chains, and poor market integration mean that fruits and vegetables are often unavailable or prohibitively expensive during lean seasons, resulting in uneven access. Consumption heavily skews toward wealthier populations and urban centers, while rural, low-income, and marginalized groups, especially women, children, and the elderly, face the greatest barriers.
Insights from RI’s consumer demand webinar series underscored these findings. Panelists emphasized that nutrition education alone cannot overcome structural affordability constraints. Behavior change campaigns promoting fruit and vegetable consumption fall flat when consumers simply cannot afford the foods being promoted. Others highlighted how export-oriented horticulture investments, while economically valuable, can further reduce domestic availability if not paired with strategies that support local markets and consumption.
Experts noted that limited fruit and vegetable access leads to low dietary diversity, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising dependence on ultra-processed foods, which exacerbate the global triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies coupled with overnutrition). Over time, these patterns increase the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases while undermining productivity and economic resilience.
This cycle is not inevitable. The report and webinar discussions point to viable pathways forward. Investments that reduce postharvest losses can lower prices while improving farmer returns. Strengthening local and institutional markets, such as school meal programs and public procurement, can stabilize demand and support smallholder participation. Demand-generation strategies that account for affordability, cultural preferences, and convenience can shift consumption when paired with supply-side improvements. Importantly, centering women’s roles as producers, vendors, and decision-makers amplifies gains across nutrition and equity outcomes.
Ultimately, underinvestment in fruits and vegetables shapes food systems in ways that perpetuate poor diets and health inequities. Rebalancing investments toward horticulture (through R&D, infrastructure, markets, and policy) is imperative and, when done responsibly, offers one of the most direct routes from agricultural policy to improved human health.