Canadians have been finding grocery shopping more painful to their wallets in recent years. The term 'foodflation' has entered our lexicon, prompting the search for culprits. Supply chain disruptions as a result of the pandemic and the Ukraine war did contribute, as did perhaps 'greedflation'—the perceived greed of leading Canadian grocers. The rising costs of food imports from the United States due to the falling Canadian dollar may also be at play.
Our findings also illustrate the challenge in maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, given that their cost remains a significant obstacle for many Canadians. This growing vulnerability of our food systems to climate-related extreme weather underscores the urgent need for more robust climate action. In fact, the long-term effects of climate change on foodflation are likely to be more severe than the direct effects of the carbon tax.