{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,7]],"date-time":"2026-03-07T12:46:07Z","timestamp":1772887567785,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,20]],"date-time":"2019-12-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1576800000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001798","name":"Edith Cowan University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001798","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"University of Tasmania, Health Practitioner Researcher Development Scholarship","award":["1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Fresh fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of a balanced diet; their consumption has health, environmental, ethical, and economic implications. This pilot study aimed to: (i) measure fruit and vegetable consumption; (ii) understand consumer perceptions of the perceived importance of regionally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (RGFFV); and (iii) identify the barriers and enablers of access and consumption of RGFFV. The study took place in Tasmania (TAS) and South Western Australia (SWA). A 54-item survey included questions relating to purchasing and consumption patterns; barriers and enablers related to access and consumption of RGFFV; and sociodemographic information. Survey data were analyzed using Chi-square test and binary logistic regression. A total of n = 120 TAS and n = 123 SWA adult respondents participated. SWA respondents had higher intakes of fruit (p &lt; 0.001) and vegetables (p &lt; 0.001). Almost all respondents (97%) rated purchasing of RGFFV as important. Top enablers included produce freshness (97%), and to financially support local farmers (94%) and the local community (91%). Barriers included limited seasonal availability of the produce (26%), the belief that RGFFV were expensive (12%) and food budgetary constraints (10%). Recommendations include broader marketing and labelling of seasonal RGFFV; increasing \u2018buy local\u2019 campaigns; consumer information about how RGFFV benefits producers and communities; and pricing produce according to quality.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17010063","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,20]],"date-time":"2019-12-20T09:50:33Z","timestamp":1576835433000},"page":"63","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":30,"title":["Australian Consumer Perceptions of Regionally Grown Fruits and Vegetables: Importance, Enablers, and Barriers"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3067-8253","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stephanie","family":"Godrich","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University South West Campus, 585 Robertson Road, Bunbury, WA 6230, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5330-7044","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katherine","family":"Kent","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Newnham Drive, Newnham, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia"}]},{"given":"Sandra","family":"Murray","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Newnham Drive, Newnham, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia"}]},{"given":"Stuart","family":"Auckland","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Newnham Drive, Newnham, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1913-5354","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johnny","family":"Lo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia"}]},{"given":"Lauren","family":"Blekkenhorst","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9604-4953","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Beth","family":"Penrose","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Churchill Avenue, Sandy Bay, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6978-6249","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amanda","family":"Devine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,12,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Vegetables, W.A., and Planfarm Pty Ltd. 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