From your second example you need to think of the names and the "values" separately. They need to be side by side in adjacent cells in a table that can be matched.
Corresponding List
A B C D
Fruit Price Veggie Price
Apple 50 Carrot 20
Pear 30 Sprout 12
Now a VLOOKUP formula will work against that data. You know, it seems like more work than is needed to keep the lists in separate columns. If you put all the "items" in one set of columns then the same formula works whether the item is a fruit or a veggie.
Corresponding List
A B C D
Fruit Price
Apple 50
Pear 30
Veggie Price
Carrot 20
Sprout 12
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