Welcome back to the SW Florida Grocery Shopping Chronicles, a place where we talk about all things grocery shopping with our audience from Marco Island to Cape Coral.

This is a place where you can share your grocery shopping experiences − good and bad − whether it’s Publix, Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, or any of the long list of grocery stores here in SW Florida.

Have a tip? A money-saving hack? An idea for a grocery shopping poll question? Or, maybe, you just want to vent and tell us what is wrong with grocery shopping in 2026 and how it might be fixed. Any kind of random grocery shopping thoughts will do!

More: Grocery shopping poll: Who has the best produce section in SW Florida?

Florida families are cutting back on fresh produce

A survey conducted by Advance America has revealed families in Florida, one out of three, are cutting back on fresh produce because of higher prices.

That’s right. For over a third Florida families, according to the survey, fresh fruit and vegetables are no longer a grocery staple − they are a luxury.

The survey of 3,004 households found that 35% of Florida families are buying less fruit and vegetables on each shopping trip (compared to a national average of 34%), while 51% say their overall diet is less healthy than it was two to three years ago.

The produce aisle has become a decision between good intentions and grocery math, the company said in a press release about the survey.

For households that have not reduced their intake, the costs are still being felt.

On average, Florida families say they are now spending an extra $28.60 per month just on fruit and vegetables − 11% more than at the same time last year.

Some states are feeling that increase more sharply than others, according to the survey. The top five states spending the most extra per month on produce are:

North Dakota − $99 extra per month; 38% increase*

Idaho − $52 extra per month; 20% increase

Arkansas − $44 extra per month; 17% increase

Georgia −  $44 extra per month; 17% increase

New Jersey − $44 extra per month; 17% increase

What’s happening in SW Florida with produce?

We’re curious about the produce aisles in SW Florida and if this survey is a reflection of grocery shoppers in this region.

For the grocery shopping chronicles, we are always interested in hearing from our readers about their grocery shopping experiences. Have you been cutting back on buying fresh producer because it is “a luxury” due to the rising cost of grocery store foods?

Share your story and maybe we will chronicle your experience.

Grocery Shopping Chronicles: What’s your story?

We encourage others in our audience, like Sarah and so many others who have sent in emails, to tell us what they think, or if you have a poll idea or you want to share your Grocery Shopping Chronicle − about anything, send me an email at mbickel@gannett.com.

Mark H. Bickel is the Audience Development Director for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach him by emailing mbickel@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Are grocery shoppers cutting back on produce to save money?