Supply Chain Concerns For Food Depot Alimentaire
MONCTON–Rising food, rent and gas prices are forcing New Brunswickers to find other ways of feeding their families.
Food Depot Alimentaire Executive Director Stephane Sirois says numbers are up dramatically, “On average, we’ve seen an increase of 20 per cent since the beginning of the year of those visiting food banks. Right now, it is averaging close to 25,000 visits per month in the province.”
Sirois says they’re finding a lot of new clients are first time food bank users, “People coming in that were not food bank clients before. People with rents are increasing and food and gas. People that are feeling the pain.”
He says he likes to be optimistic, but admits the situation could get worse before its gets better.
Sirois says usage spikes are across the province, but the more significant increases are in larger communities including Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton.
Sirois adds supply chain issues are also a concern, “The challenges are not only purchasing the food, it is getting the food as well. There are some products like cereal and dairy products that are really difficult to acquire recently due to the pandemic recovery.”
He is trying to be hopeful for the growing season this summer and fall, “There’s been a lot of challenges with farmers acquiring fertilizers and other supplies, so they are being hit hard as well, so we’ll see how that translates in the fall during harvest season.”
The war in the Ukraine is also causing supply chain issues for certain products.
New data Food Banks Canada found rising inflation and housing costs are leaving around seven million Canadians hungry.
Tara Clow is the news director with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.