Factors Causing the Increase in Grocery Prices
The average family in Canada will pay $695 more for their groceries per year. Wildfires, the Covid 19 pandemic and changing consumer habits are driving up the cost of groceries. The cost of vegetables, meat and produce will rise by 3 to 5 cents. This means that the average family of four will pay $13,907 per year for groceries.
Slyvain Charlebois is a professor at Dalhousie University. He stated that the cost of groceries will not be going down any time soon. The 11th edition of the Food Report was recently published by the University of Guelph and Dalhousie University. Experts also stated that Covid 19 will continue to affect food prices well into 2021.
The meat industry has been the most impacted by Covid 19. Logistic disruptions, labor shortages and food plant shutdowns are causing major problems with the meat industry. Meat prices are expected to increase by 6.5 percent. Poultry is going to have the greatest price hike. Poultry prices have increased by 7 percent since July.
Slyvain stated that farmers are also feeling the impact of Covid 19. They have to pay more for equipment that they need to adhere to the Covid 19 cleaning protocols. Floods, droughts and climate change are some of the other factors that are causing the cost of food to increase.
How California’s Wildfires Are Impacting This
Most of Canada’s produce comes from California. The state is currently experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons ever. Stuart Symth works for the University of Saskatchewan. He stated that many of the crops have been compromised by the smoke. He also stated that vegetables are going to be most impacted by the wildfires.
Stuart stated that the price of carrots and potatoes should remain the same. However, the cost of produce and leafy greens will likely go up. Asparagus, cauliflower and cabbage are some of the vegetables that will experience the greatest increase.
For example, if you are a man who is between the ages of 31 and 50, then you can expect to pay $159 more for your groceries. A woman who is in the same group can expect to pay $152 more per year.
Stuart said that supply and demand is the main issue. If the demand goes up while the supply is down, then the cost will go up. The new report breaks down the average cost of food by gender and age. It allows consumers to estimate the amount of money that they will spend on food.
