By Murray Sherriffs
The cost of feeding your family is expected to rise quite a bit in the coming year.
A Food Price Report produced by several Canadian universities is projecting the average family of four will pay about $1,000 more for food.
Their average yearly cost of food will be about $17,571.79.
The agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University, in partnership with several other universities says that price increases next year are expected, despite trade-related price pressures continuing to decrease.
Canada lifted almost all counter-tariffs against the U.S. in September, and President Trump has walked back tariffs on more than 200 agricultural and food products.
Fruit prices will likely rise one-to-three per cent; vegetables up three-to-five per cent.
Meat main factor
Meat is the main driver of food inflation, up 7.2% this year and is projected to rise another five-to-seven per cent next year.
Buyers have shifted to chicken, which has also prompted poultry prices to spike.
Wildfires in California, droughts in parts of Canada, will also affect crop production and the food supply chain.
Prices also rose significantly this year for coffee and tea, cocoa, strawberries, oranges, squash and carrots.
There is movement toward more plant-based sources of proteins.
Dairy and eggs could see a two-to-four per cent price gain.
Eating out will become even more expensive; expect to see average increases of four-to-six per cent
Something to watch next year: the impact of the Canada Grocery Code, which will come into effect next month.
Some food cost observers believe that the code could suppress the power that grocers have over suppliers, which could help to stabilize prices.