Price hikes in grocery affecting Windsorites

 

By Samantha Wigfield.

Produce and meat prices have dramatically increased this past year, causing various concerns for Windsorites and food related organizations.

Wages continue to relatively stay the same, while the CBC News website says in this past year alone, produce has gone up 10 per cent and meat has gone up approximately four per cent.

CEO of the Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Essex, June Muir, said all the products the organization gets are donated, relying on food drives and the Ontario Food Bank Association to get the food on the shelves.

When going to the grocery store, it’s become very expensive for low and middle income families to shop sensibly, often opting for frozen and canned goods as alternatives, she said.

“To eat healthy is very costly. It can be as costly as a mortgage payment or paying your rent,” said Muir.  “Or trying to decide if you should pay your utility bills or if you should buy food that month.  Very, very hard decisions. Families really do struggle.”

The UHC is the hub for the 15 food banks across Windsor and Essex County, receiving food from the Ontario Food Bank Association which is then is distributed to each location.

Sometimes that isn’t enough and individual food banks are asked to host food drives, sometimes with specific themes. It could range from a peanut butter drive, a snack program of giving children snacks while going to school or a canned drive that seeks food high in protein or fruits, so it’s healthy for the consumer.

Cheryl Poupard, a single mother, said the hike in grocery prices is affecting her budget drastically.

“It’s hard to stay healthy when it’s so expensive,” said Poupard. “I need things to last in my house and a few vegetables and a pack of meat doesn’t stretch as far as it used too.”

Muir also mentioned the Plentiful Harvest program, alongside the food banks and employment search help. She also said since June 2012, the program has “rescued” seven million pounds of food that would have been thrown away and wasted. The produce has been donated from partners within Essex County and the food has been redistributed to people in need throughout Windsor – Essex.

“There’s no reason why anyone in Windsor and Essex County can’t call us and get fresh produce,” said Muir. “We have lots of it and it’s there to help people. If you want healthy nutritional food, we can help you.”

David Marton, of Windsor, said he’s often had to switch to frozen alternatives, but tries to stay fresh.

“The best advice I can give is it buy what’s in season for those who are on a budget,” said Marton. “Cutting things out sucks, but fresh is always better than frozen.”

But it seems it’s not just low to middle income people affected, Muir said. When the organization has to buy meat, eggs and milk, they notice how much more expensive it is to replenish their shelves, she said.