Methods to compare fruit and vegetable prices in low-income neighborhood stores with county level retail scanner data APHA 2008, San Diego Presented by: Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH, RD Research Scientist I Research and Evaluation Unit Network for a Healthy California Co-Authors: Valerie Quinn, MEd, Ellen Feighery, RN, MS, Sharon Sugerman, MS, RD

Presenter Disclosures (1)The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH, RD No relationships to disclose

Documents the physical environment and empowers local action to change the environment to support individual behaviors A planning model that involves assessing communities in relation to a variety of obesity prevention benchmarks known as community indicators and assets Based on California Tobacco Control Section initiative, CX (Communities of Excellence) 3 = nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention CX 3 : Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention

CX 3 Standardized Indicators and Assets Indicators organized into 6 Community Environments: –Neighborhood –Preschool –School –After-school –Worksite –Government Assets organized into: –Health department infrastructure –Political will –Community infrastructure currently working in

= Pilot Sites (2006) = Group 3 (2008) Local Health Departments = Group 2 (2007) CX 3 Sites 24 Network sites (2 more for 2009) 15+ Sites w/other funding trained More than ½ HD’s in CA

Chose 3-6 low-income neighborhoods Each neighborhood 1-5 census tracts > 50% of population in census tract at or below 185% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Other selection factors Established partnerships Race/Ethnic make-up Rural and Urban (for some sites) Obesity rates (used by one site) CX 3 Neighborhood Selection: Network for a Healthy California

Field Surveys Grocery stores & small markets –Availability and quality of fruits and vegetables, –Fruit and vegetable prices –Other healthy foods Includes new WIC food package –Marketing of healthy/unhealthy foods –Products around check-out CX 3 Data: 3-6 low-income neighborhoods Neighborhood Environment

CX 3 : Prices Collected for F/V Fruits Apples Bananas Oranges Vegetables Carrots Tomatoes Broccoli Cabbage Specifc items selected as part of survey mainly for commonality, but also nutrition and cultural relevance Recorded lowest priced variety, per pound preferred, but could collect price per piece or bunch or bag (but must record weight)

CX 3 : Price Data Goals/Scenario To determine if f/v prices in grocery stores, small markets and convenience stores were higher than a reasonable price specific to the area Prices vary by region in California –very different from Central Valley to Bay Area Prices also vary seasonally –needed to obtain comparison price for f/v during time in the field Part of overall scoring system with stores getting up to 100 points –pricing accounts for 10 pts

Comparison Data Available: Vendor able to provide scanner data by specified “geography” for a given time period (min. 1 wk) –Dollars sold –Pounds sold –Units sold –Price/lb –Price/unit All supermarket 2M –Raley’s, Vons, Safeway, Albertsons, Savemart, Food Maxx, etc., –not warehouses, or superstores (ie. Walmart) Typically data used by industry to monitor impact of sales, specials, or market forces Web-based interface

Data Used for Comparison County geography Varieties (for all CA) –lowest price –highest sellers (by pounds) –selected at natural breaks in data Price/lb Average price Added 10% margin of error Comparison Price or “Reasonable Price” Los Angeles Gala Red Delicious $ / 2 $1.61 x 10% $1.77 comparison price

BANANAS Contra Costa$0.80 Butte$1.89 Marin$0.87 LA$2.03 Sacramento$0.68 Monterey$1.45 Solano$0.79 Orange$1.68 Ventura$0.74 Santa Barbara$1.63 Average cost:$0.78 Shasta$1.08 Sonoma$3.08 Stanislaus$1.70 Yolo$0.90 Average cost:$1.72 Total Increase:$0.94

TOMATOES Contra Costa$2.01 Butte$1.73 Marin$3.88 LA$1.74 Sacramento$1.65 Monterey$1.65 Solano$2.73 Orange$2.23 Ventura$1.21 Santa Barbara$3.27 Average cost:$2.30 Shasta$1.92 Sonoma$1.33 Stanislaus$1.82 Yolo$2.31 Average cost:$2.00 Total Increase:-$0.30

CX 3 Sample: Food Store Types Other: Discount, Drug Stores, Health Food, Ethnic 2007 Sample n = 138 stores 18 neighborhoods 2008 Sample n = 228 stores 32 neighborhoods Other: 99¢/Dollar, Drug Stores, Warehouse, WIC Only

Of 363 prices collected in % were below “Reasonable Price” In 2008, 613 prices 86% CX 3 Findings: F&V Prices Stores sell produce: 64% in % in 2008

40% of Stores in % of Stores in 2008 Met the standard of availability and reasonable prices CX 3 Findings: F&V Prices To meet standards stores need 7 out of 10 items with prices below “reasonable price”

Conclusions Individual item prices do not appear to be excessive, specifically in supermarkets, large grocery stores and small markets When stores are evaluated for standards of availability and price, most (40% in 2007, 26% in 2008) do not meet standards Obtaining local pricing data for comparison allows for price differences by area, seasonality, and economic shifts Next steps: additional analysis without 10% margin of error, availability/quality analysis

For More Information: Research Scientist I Network for a Healthy California Research and Evaluation Unit California Department of Public Health Alyssa Ghirardelli, MPH, RD