Food affordability and quality can influence food choice. This research explores the impact of geographic factors on food pricing and quality in Western Australia (WA). A Healthy Food Access Basket (HFAB) was cost and a visual and descriptive quality assessment of 13 commonly consumed fresh produce items was conducted in-store on a representative sample of 144 food grocery stores. The WA retail environment in 2010 had 447 grocery stores servicing 2.9 million people: 38% of stores the two major chains (Coles® Supermarkets Australia and Woolworths ® Limited) in population dense areas, 50% were smaller independently owned stores (Independent Grocers Association®) in regional areas as well, and 12% Indigenous community stores in very remote areas. The HFAB cost 24% (p<0.0001) more in very remote areas than the major city with fruit (32%, p<0.0001), vegetables (26.1%, p<0.0005) and dairy (40%, p<0.0001) higher. Higher price did not correlate with higher quality with only 80% of very remote stores meeting all criteria for fresh produce compared with 93% in Perth. About 30% of very remote stores did not meet quality criteria for bananas, green beans, lettuce, and tomatoes. With increasing geographic isolation, most foods cost more and the quality of fresh produce was lower. Food affordability and quality may deter healthier food choice in geographically isolated communities. Improving affordability and quality of nutritious foods in remote communities may positively impact food choices, improve food security and prevent diet-sensitive chronic disease. Policy makers should consider influencing agriculture, trade, commerce, transport, freight, and modifying local food economies.
食品可购性和质量影响食品的选择。本研究探讨了地理因素对西澳大利亚食品 价格和质量的影响。用一个健康食品进入篮（HFAB）评估了144 家有代表性 的食品杂货店的13 种经常食用的新鲜农产品的价格、外观和质量。2010 年西 澳大利亚的零售环境为447 家食品杂货商店服务290 万人口，38%的商店是位 于人口密集地区的两大连锁超市（Coles®澳大利亚超市和Woolworths®有限公 司），50％为位于小区的小型独立经营的商店（独立杂货商协会®），另外 12%的商店是位于非常偏远地区的土著社区。非常偏远地区的HFAB 价格比大 城市高24%（p<0.0001），水果、蔬菜和奶制品分别高32%（p<0.0001）、 26.1%（p<0.0005）和40%（p<0.0001）。价格与质量无关，在非常偏僻的 店，只有80%的新鲜农产品满足所有的标准，而在Perth 高达93%。约有30% 非常偏僻的店的香蕉、绿豆、生菜和西红柿不符合质量标准。越偏离城市，大 部分食品价格越高，而新鲜农产品的质量越低。在地理上与世隔绝的社区，食 品的可购性和质量可能阻碍了健康食品的选择。改善偏远社区营养食品的可购 性和质量可能会对食品选择产生积极影响，提高食品保障，预防对膳食敏感的 慢性病。政策制定者应该考虑通过影响农业、贸易、商业、运输和货运来改善 当地食品经济。