Improving the fresh fruit and vegetable supply in rural Australia: A systematic scoping review of interventions

Fresh fruits and vegetables are integral to a healthy and sustainable diet. However, fresh produce is inequitably more expensive, less available and of poorer quality in rural Australia, compared with that of metropolitan locations. Reasons include costs associated with transporting food long distances and reduced competition. We aimed to identify interventions or proposals to improve the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables in rural Australia.

Using a systematic scoping review, we searched peer-reviewed databases, web searches and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet in August 2022.

Shortening food supply chains (e.g. food hubs) was the most frequent recommendation to improve both the efficiency and resilience of the food supply chain (n=17), followed by improving freight processes (e.g. creating local buying groups; n=6) and promoting the role of governments (e.g. linking government departments with local interest holders; n=5). Only six of the 37 interventions have been implemented. Critical analysis of the interventions was limited, with only one intervention having been evaluated.

The interventions identified could facilitate increased intake of fresh fruit and vegetables in rural locations in Australia, contributing to a reduction in diet-related chronic disease.