With food prices expected to rise in 2020, this puts more pressure on Food Banks.
According to the Canada Food Price Report, an increase of two to four per cent is forecast next year, with meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit prices expected to see the highest jump. This could mean an increase of almost $500 a year for the average Canadian family.
Executive Director for Food Depot Alimentaire Chantal Senecal says this is nothing new because it seems to happen every year, but it is a concern, “We do expect it to affect families that are already struggling to put food on the table. We’re hoping it won’t cause an increase, but it certainly is a concern. It is tougher for people to donate and it is tougher for us to purchase the food, so that’s definitely a concern.”
Senecal says the FDA receives large donations from grocery stores as well, “We do have amazing partnerships with out local grocery stores and our suppliers that donate quite a bit, but we are hoping that will be able to continue. If the food prices are going up that means retailers are also going to potentially struggle to be able to donate as well.”
“We try to teach our clients new ways, so they won’t have to rely on the food bank as much. Over the last couple of years, we have been really trying to put a push on to educate people as much as possible to grow their own food. We are always supporting a local food initiative to start of be more sustainable within our own communities,” Senecal adds.
The Canada Food Price Report is released each year, as a result of studies done by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph.
