Increase in vegetable prices making things harder for those barely getting by

SURREY (NEWS 1130) The cost of fresh produce has been taking a bigger bite out of our paycheques, but it’s become even harder for those barely getting by. Numbers from Stats Can show the average price for fresh veggies has risen by more than 11 per cent since last year.

The average price for fresh vegetables rose by 11.5 per cent between September 2014 and September 2015 while the average cost for fresh fruit went up 8.5 per cent.

The Executive Director at the Surrey Food Bank has found new clients are coming in because the quality of their diet is slipping. Marilyn Herrmann spoke with one senior who told her there wasn’t enough left at the end of the month. “I had a senior, for example, who came to me for the first time she came to a food bank. She said I just wasn’t eating properly by the time I supplemented my husband’s healthcare, he’s in long term care, by the time I paid my rent, my basic utilities, there was very little money left over for food. And when she walked away the very first day she was here with fresh fruits and vegetables, she was grinning from ear to ear. She said it’s been a long time since I could afford something like this.”

Herrmann and her food bank partner with farmers and other groups with big buying power to get access to produce at lower prices. She says you can help keep that going by thinking of a cash donation the next time you give.

Great Vancouver Food Bank is also partnering with local farmers to make sure their members have healthy food. It isn’t reporting an overall increase in food bank members.

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