May inflation led by higher vegetable prices

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A double-digit per cent increase in vegetable prices has led to a bump in BC inflation for May.

Inflation rose 0.8 per cent in BC, with the price of veggies shooting up 11.9 per cent.

Much of the produce seen in grocery stores in May comes from California, so the dollar is hurting BC prices right now, according to Brian Faulkner with BC Fresh.

“The overall prices at the destination or at the start point in California haven’t changed dramatically. But when you add 25 per cent exchange on top of freight costs and the cost of produce, that’s where it drives it up.”

He says the costs of certain veggies will come down soon for produce you know is grown locally.

“The leafy greens are starting here locally; they’ve been going for a little bit. Warba potato — which is our new nugget potato — [and] local cabbage has started, local beets,” he lists.

“Anything that’s not grown here is going to be more expensive. Things that are coming from far away — things that are grown in Peru and Chile and the United States and Mexico — you’re paying for freight and the cost of diesel and the foreign exchange on top of that.”

But he notes some local costs are higher this year as well, because farmers need to pay for seeds and other items which are based on US dollars.

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