The cost of groceries continues to go up in 2016 after climbing in 2015.
Most fruits and vegetables are imported to Canada in the winter, so the price is affected by fluctuating currency.
The dollar is down, prices are up, and people are noticing.
"The stuff that's really hit now is the greenery. Like you know broccoli, and celery and that kind of stuff, usually about $10 dollars more than it used to be," said one shopper.
According to a recent forecast by researchers at the University of Guelph, the average Canadian family of four spent roughly $350 more for the same basket of food in 2015 as they did the year before.
"If you add up the last couple of years it equates to almost $700 so it is a bit of money," said Sylvain Charlebois of the University of Guelph
The weak dollar isn’t the only problem in Alberta, where the energy crash has left shoppers with depleted budgets.
The good news is that grocery distributers are sensitive to market forces and won’t raise prices too high for fear of being unable to sell their products, which have short shelf lives.
Some charities have noticed the cost. The Veterans Food Bank is now increasing its food vouchers from $300 to $400 every two months to account for the increased costs.
The report's authors say beef has seen the greatest increase of all, up about 30 per cent over the past 24 months.
But there are ways to save… a family of four typically throws out about $1500 in food each year.
