Most of the diet and nutrition books that I read stress the importance
of eating lots of vegetables.  However, I'm not real wild about some
of the hassles of making fresh vegetables such as cleaning and
spoilage.  I don't mind frozen vegetables though.  My question then is
how much better for you are fresh vegetables than frozen vegetables? 
I suppose a lot of that depends on just how "fresh" the fresh
vegetables are but I'm looking for some general research.  And is it
possible that frozen vegetables might even be better for you than
fresh vegetables due to the fact that they are frozen right away vs.
left on a truck to sit for a while?  Basically I'm looking for any
research comparing fresh vegetables to frozen vegetables.  I'm
surprised that I haven't seen anything like this given the fact that
so many of the books place a heavy emphasis on vegetables.

Hi there,

The fresh vs. frozen debate is of concern to many health-conscious
individuals. You'll be happy to learn, however, that the experts say
as long as you're getting the recommended 5 daily servings of fruits
and vegetables, it doesn't really matter how you get it.

That said, there are certain things to keep in mind when purchasing
produce:

The vitamins and nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables break down
over time as they are exposed to light and air. Considering that some
produce arrives at the grocery store up to two weeks after harvest,
and often sits on the shelf for some time thereafter, frozen produce
can actually be BETTER than "fresh" in some cases. In addition, fresh
produce may be improperly stored in transit and in-store, resulting in
lost vitamins. Don't worry too much about nutrient loss in frozen
produce: it's generally processed and flash-frozen close to the source
of harvest, retaining its nutrients.

When buying fresh produce, look for what's in season and locally
grown, as these selections will be freshest and relatively high in
nutrients. Buy your not-in-season produce frozen to keep a good
variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet while not compromising
nutritional value. Note that frozen vegetables which have been thawed
and refrozen will not be as nutritious as those kept frozen.

Finally, should you decide to entirely forego fresh produce for the
ease and convenience of frozen, rest easy - the International Food
Information Council says that fresh, frozen and canned vegetables are
basically identical in nutritional value (though canned produce is
often higher in sodium). Some people prefer the taste of fresh
produce, but if this isn't an issue for you, continue to eat your
frozen veg with a peaceful mind.

I used the following sources, which you may find of interest:

Can't Find Fresh? Canned and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Still Count
Toward Your 'Five a Day'
<http://www.delmonte.com/News/health7/body.htm>  

Which is Best? Canned, Frozen or Fresh?
<http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columnnn/nn970122.html>
 
Fresh vs. Frozen vs. Canned Fruits and Veg
<http://members.aol.com/~rlauera/columns/fresh10.htm>
 
Diseases and Conditions - Discovery Health - Frozen Foods Versus Fresh
<http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/1908.html> 

Medill News Service on the Web -- Frozen food companies face long haul
for acceptance
<http://xavier.cs.northwestern.edu:8000/article.asp?articleID=1035&item=archives>

Nutrition in Fresh and Frozen Produce
<http://busycooks.about.com/library/archive/blfrozenproduce.htm>

I used the following search string in researching your topic:
frozen foods versus fresh 

Happy eating!

Reagrds,

Emjay-ga

Exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks emjay!!!

perfect answer...concise and accurate as far as I can tell.  Thanx.