Food prices at an all time high at Ottawa grocery stores
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented spike in the price of groceries, the largest increase in Canada’s history.
The price hike can be found in every aisle of the grocery store.
Owner of Farmer’s Pick grocery store, Alfonso Curcio, is an expert when it comes to the price of food.
"I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. Never seen so many items go up so quick,” says Curcio. "It’s supply and demand. When the demand is there and the supply is not there, the price has got to go up."
Compared to July 2020, overall food prices have risen by 1.7 per cent.
"So dairy, we usually get one price increase per year," says Curcio. "We’ve had two already this year. And eggs, we’re on a third price increase this year."
In 2019 tomatoes were $4.99 per 3 litre basket at Farmer’s Pick. Now, $6.99.Pasta was $2.99 two years ago, today that same package is $3.99.
Since 2016, some of the biggest jumps in food prices came from baby food, potatoes and beef.
Alternatively, some things got cheaper since then. Onions, flour and bread all went down in price.
If you compare today's prices to 2019, beef, eggs and bacon all rose more than any other food item.
While onions, peanut butter, and orange juice all have lower prices than they did two years ago
Sylvain Charlebois is the director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. He says inflation is becoming a problem in the western world.
"For some oils like olive oil, a lot of it is imported," says Charlebois. “And once you have to move things around the world these days, it’s costing three times the price right now."
"Anything coming in from Europe, the container price went from like $3500, to almost like $20,000," says Curcio.
Some shoppers at Farmer’s Pick say they’ve had to change the way they buy their groceries.
"Certainly the meat has gone up a lot," says Adelle Forth.
"Before it was just, you go to one store and you buy what you need," says Kathy Gallagher. "And now you look through your coupons and see what you can get on sale."
"I just shop for bargains you know," says George Uza. "I just try to find the best prices whereever I am."
Marie Tremblay adds, "Now you have to be really, really strategic if you want to be able to respect your budget."
Double-checking the cost of every item you reach for has now become routine for shoppers.
"It’s basically being smart," says Curcio. "Take inventory of what you have at home, and just buy what you need. Just keep it tight."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.