Beyond the salad: Evaluating the availability and healthfulness of foods containing fruits and vegetables at convenience stores

Authors: PROMSCHMIDT, CLAUDIA - University Of North Dakota; BERNHARDT, ANNA - University Of North Dakota; JOHNSON, NATHANIEL - University Of North Dakota; Casperson, Shanon; Thompson, Derick; Hess, Julie

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2026
Publication Date: 3/25/2026
Citation: Promschmidt, C., Bernhardt, A., Johnson, N., Casperson, S.L., Thompson, D.K., Hess, J.M. 2026. Beyond the salad: Evaluating the availability and healthfulness of foods containing fruits and vegetables at convenience stores. Nutrients. 18(7). Article 1049. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071049.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071049

Interpretive Summary: Several regions of the Grand Forks, ND and East Grand Forks, MN metro area have lower incomes, on average, and less access to supermarkets ("LILA" regions). These regions still contain convenience stores. The purpose of this project was to compare fruit and vegetable availability in convenience stores within LILA and non-LILA regions of the Grand Forks metro area. Over half (57%) of the foods at convenience stores in both LILA and non-LILA regions that provided any servings of fruits or vegetables were potato chips. While each convenience store had some items that contributed to fruit and vegetable servings, most of these options were high in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat and should be limited in a healthy diet. The lack of healthful options at convenience stores, especially in LILA areas, indicates an opportunity for more shelf-stable fruit and vegetable options that contain less sodium, fewer added sugars, and less saturated fat than current offerings.

Technical Abstract: Background: We sought to evaluate the availability and healthfulness of fruits and vegetables at convenience stores in regions of a small U.S. metropolis with higher and lower levels of food access and household income. Methods: Regions of the Grand Forks, North Dakota metropolitan area with lower incomes and less access to supermarkets (“LILA” regions) were identified. Three pairs of convenience stores were selected with one location each in LILA and non-LILA areas. A list of products that could count towards servings of fruits or vegetables according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was compiled at each of the 6 stores. Foods were manually matched with an equivalent item in the Food Patterns Equivalent Database to estimate their fruit or vegetable cup-equivalents. Products were also classified using criteria from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research (HER) Guidelines. Results: An average of n=143 items per store provided at least 0.1 cup-equivalent of fruits or vegetables per serving. Approximately 57% of these items were potato chips, which provide 0.5 cup-equivalents of “starchy vegetables” per 1 oz serving. Some products such as bottled 100% fruit juice, fresh apples, canned beef stew, seasoned dried mango, pre-packaged fruit smoothies, and a frozen spaghetti dinner meal provided at least 1 cup-equivalent of fruits or vegetables. Because most of these products also contain added sugars, sodium, and/or have high fat contents categorize them as processed/packaged snacks, mixed dishes, or desserts instead of “fruits and vegetables” and recommends that these products be consumed “rarely” according to HER Guidelines. Conclusions: Products providing some fruits and vegetables were offered by convenience stores in LILA and non-LILA areas. Regardless of location, most products were high in nutrients to limit, and very few were recommended for consumption “often” or even “sometimes.” Fresh fruits and vegetables may not be feasible to stock regularly. However, the lack of healthful options, including in LILA areas, indicates an opportunity for more shelf-stable options that contain less sodium, fewer added sugars, and less fat than the current offerings.