Inflating food prices are complicating Calgary resident’s attempts to lead a healthy lifestyle and buy affordable groceries amid difficult times, ranging from weather conditions to rising prices for produce importers outside Canada.
Canada’s main fresh food importer, the U.S, contributes 41.6 per cent of Canada’s fresh produce, with provider farms based in California such as the Earthbound Farm – which supplies Canada with greens like spinach, lettuce, kale, and arugula – Canadians rely on the U.S for most of their fresh goods.
Aside from weather complications that fall and winter seasons bring Canadian farmers, the rising costs for producers outside the country complicate the harvesting process, therefore amping up supermarkets’ grocery prices for the general public.
Ukraine — as a result of the Russian invasion — has faced a tremendous setback in food production and therefore, has ceased to export outside the country.
Aside from industrial machinery, Ukraine exports wheat and other grain products to much of the world.
According to Canada’s 2022 Food Price Report, the price of wheat and grain products, as well as vegetables, will inflate from five to seven per cent for the remainder of the year, including the first months of 2023.
In the case of Calgary’s immigrant families and other low-income households – grocery shopping can be a great challenge, especially if there is a significant gap between the economy of Canada and the family’s country of origin.
A 2022 calculation made on Food Freedom Day by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) revealed that on average, a Canadian household spends about 10.7 per cent of total income on groceries.
Carlos Sotelo, the father of an immigrant family of five, spends up to 15 per cent of his and his wife’s, Veronica Ruíz, shared income on grocery shopping.
Given the couple works remotely on a marketing business, they embarked on while living in Mexico, the family’s income currency is Mexican Pesos (MXN), which further entangles their economic state when having to pay their bills in Canadian Dollars (CAD).
Sotelo said that a way he and his family have found optimal to stay on budget while grocery shopping is to cross shop.
“Walmart ended up being a very good place to shop for groceries,” he said.
“It gives us a really nice balance between what we can buy in Costco and our overall needs,” Sotelo added. In his case, there’s still one issue without a solution: importers to Canada and supply chain costs.
Irrefutably, the Calgary Farmers’ Market is a fair alternative for those who prioritize maintaining the quality they consume.
Consuming locally has many benefits, from boosting Calgary’s economy, supporting farmers and small businesses, and eliminating the damage heavily processed food inflicts on the human body.
Emily Hawkins, a baking and cooking enthusiast and mother of two kids says, “The Calgary Farmers Market is a lovely place for me and my family to spend time,” she continued, “The fruits and veggies here are my favourites to cook with.”
Implementing techniques like cross shopping, designing a meal plan, having a sturdy grocery list, designating a percentage of money for food, etc., is crucial for tackling the difficulties that come with inflation, thus, finding the way to best curate a plan to help meet each person’s individual needs.
