Victorians want to cut the junk and boost fresh produce

Victorians want their fresh produce green, cheap and local and are concerned about the impact of junk food ads and marketing in schools and on TV, according new VicHealth research.

The study of 500 Victorians was recently published in the Health Promotion International journal.

It reveals overwhelming public support for more farmers' markets, increases in local production of fruit and vegetables, monitoring large supermarket chains to keep prices competitive and creating community fruit and vegetable gardens.

The majority also agreed that governments should subsidize fruit and vegetables in schools.

Opinions on taxing unhealthy food, fruit and vegetable campaigns, growing fresh food on city nature strips and banning food imported fruit and vegetables, varied depending on age, gender, education and income.

The Australian consumers' views of fruit and vegetable policy options study was led by VicHealth Research Manager Dr Lisa Thomson and Deakin University Professor of Behavioural Nutrition Tony Worsley.

Prof. Worsley said the finding suggests that many people want governments to intervene when it comes to providing healthy food.

"But many people are quite unsure about the best ways for governments to do this and not everyone is equally enthusiastic about government involvement. For example, people who are interested in the environment and the community tend to be more in favor of government intervention than others."

VicHealth CEO Todd Harper said the release of the survey results is timely given current threats to the fresh food supply from natural disasters and intense public interest about recommendations in the recent Labelling Logic report to the Federal Government.

"Nine out of 10 Victorian adults do not get five serves of vegetables a day and more than half of us don't eat enough fruit. Unhealthy diet can lead to heart disease, gastrointestinal cancer and stroke. That's why this research is so valuable. It will help inform government policies to promote healthy eating and make healthy food more readily available."