Table 2.
Percentage by which mean fruit and vegetable prices at direct retail outlets exceed prices at supermarkets in the peak local harvest season, central and eastern North Carolina, USA, 2011†,‡
| Peak local harvest season | Farmers’ market | Roadside stand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | |||
| Apples | Autumn | 3·3 | −13·3 |
| Blueberries | Summer | 2·2 | −18·7 |
| Cantaloupe | Summer | −16·0 | −36·0** |
| Grapes | Autumn | 7·9 | |
| Oranges | N/A | ||
| Peaches | Summer | 56·1 | −21·1 |
| Pears | Autumn | ||
| Pineapple | N/A | ||
| Plums | Summer | −24·7* | |
| Strawberry | Spring | 13·2 | −23·1 |
| Watermelon | Summer | −42·9* | −28·6* |
| Vegetables | |||
| Asparagus | Spring | 43·8** | |
| Broccoli | Spring | 21·9 | |
| Cabbage | Autumn | −5·6 | |
| Carrots | Summer | 137·9** | |
| Winter | |||
| Collards | Summer | 31·0 | |
| Autumn | 43·2 | ||
| Corn | Summer | −33·7 | −34·6 |
| Cucumber | Summer | −2·4 | −4·8 |
| Autumn | −7·1 | ||
| Green beans | Summer | 7·1 | −8·9 |
| Iceberg lettuce | Spring, autumn | ||
| Mixed greens | Spring | 0·6 | |
| Autumn | −33·8 | ||
| Onions | Summer | 37·8** | |
| Peas | Spring | −31·3 | |
| Potato (white) | Summer | 100·0** | 55·6* |
| Romaine lettuce | Spring | 39·4 | |
| Autumn | 32·4* | ||
| Spinach | Spring | 91·2** | |
| Autumn | |||
| Summer squash | Summer | −7·0 | −16·3 |
| Autumn | −30·0** | −26·7** | |
| Sweet potato | Autumn | 3·1 | −21·9 |
| Tomato | Summer | −11·0 | −30·8* |
| Autumn | −14·6 | −20·8 | |
N/A, not applicable, item not produced in North Carolina.
†
Price significantly different from that at supermarkets: *P<0·05, **P<0·01.
‡
Results reported if the sample size for an item–season–outlet combination was greater that or equal to eight. Supplemental Table 2 (see online supplementary material) presents expanded results for item–season–outlet combinations in which the sample size was greater than or equal to three.