They aren’t. Have you ever actually purchased vegetables or fruits? If you’re buying some sort of boutique/foreign fruit like a dragonfruit, then sure, you’re going to be paying a few dollars for one.

But come on. You can literally buy bags of spinach, potatoes, onions, bananas, kidney beans, etc. etc. for practically nothing. The only way anyone could possibly think they’re “more expensive” is if they’re thinking about it in a really stupid way. Sure, you can go get a McDouble for a dollar, while a few bags of vegetables might run you $10-$15. But $15 of raw vegetables/fruits/grains/beans are going to take you far longer than $15 of shitty hamburgers.