High Cost of Groceries in Aroostook County Maine and New Brunswick.
High Cost of Groceries in Aroostook County Maine and New Brunswick.
The Issue
High Cost of Groceries in Aroostook County Maine and New Brunswick.
Problem:
Over the past few years, the price of groceries has increased significantly in both the United States and Canada. The people of Maine and New Brunswick continue to see soaring prices in groceries with limited support (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food pantries, etc.). Many food assistance programs have a variety of guidelines to qualify, leaving many individuals unable to access these programs. This causes many issues for the individuals and families of Maine and New Brunswick, including being unable to purchase groceries with any nutritional value due to the cost and being unable to meet all basic needs (shelter, clothing, health care, personal care, transportation, etc.) due to spending more on groceries.
Impact:
The cost of groceries is a complex issue with a variety of factors that can impact the issue, however, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2024), U.S. food prices increased by 5% in 2023 compared with 2022 with the historical average of food price inflation being 2.5%. In comparison, Canada’s Food Price Report (2024), expects the average family of four to spend $16,297.20 on food in 2024, which is an increase of up to $701.79 from last year. In conclusion, the people of the United States and Canada are feeling the overwhelming increase in the cost of groceries.
Some statistics for Maine:
- 144,290 people are facing hunger with 36,490 of them being children (Hunger in Maine, n.d.).
- 1 in 10 people face hunger (Hunger in Maine, n.d.)
- 1 in 7 children face hunger (Hunger in Maine, n.d.)
- 33.2% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children (Hunger in Maine, n.d.)
Some statistics for New Brunswick
- The food insecurity rate is 22.7% in New Brunswick (New Brunswick, 2023).
- New Brunswick had the second-highest rate of food insecurity among the 10 Canadian provinces in 2022 (Webmin, 2023).
- 22.7% or 174,000 people in the province live in food-insecure households (Webmin, 2023).
The significant increase in the cost of groceries for individuals and families in Maine and New Brunswick is impacting the level of food insecurity that exists within these areas. The high cost of groceries in areas that are already struggling with food insecurity is detrimental to these individuals and families.
Your Decision Matters:
By adding your signature to this petition, you will be urging authorities at the federal, provincial, and state levels in Northern New Brunswick and Maine to promptly address the escalating grocery prices by providing necessary assistance.If the grocery prices are not stabilized and negotiated within a time frame, the Federal, Provincial, and State Governments should be implementing immediate interventions to stop price gouging and shrink flation within the grocery industry. The Federal government should implement Windfall taxes to the Monopolizing Grocers. These Billion dollar corporations have had record breaking profits preying off the backs of New Brunswick and Maine residents during vulnerable economic periods. Provincial and State levels should demand price freezing and grocery rebate while prices for food stabilize.
References
2023 New Brunswick. Food Banks Canada. (2023, September 29). https://foodbankscanada.ca/poverty-index/2023-new-brunswick/
Food prices and spending. USDA ERS - Food Prices and Spending. (n.d.). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-prices-and-spending/?topicId=1afac93a-444e-4e05-99f3-53217721a8be
Humes, K. (2023, December 7). Canada’s food price report 2024 predicts Canadians will finally get relief from “sticker‑shock.” Dalhousie News. https://www.dal.ca/news/2023/12/07/canada-food-price-report-2024.html
Hunger in Maine. Feeding America. (n.d.). https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/maine
Webmin. (2023, May 29). Commentary: Political will required to end poverty, food insecurity in New Brunswick. op. https://nbmediacoop.org/2023/05/29/commentary-new-brunswickers-struggling-to-eat/
48
The Issue
High Cost of Groceries in Aroostook County Maine and New Brunswick.
Problem:
Over the past few years, the price of groceries has increased significantly in both the United States and Canada. The people of Maine and New Brunswick continue to see soaring prices in groceries with limited support (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food pantries, etc.). Many food assistance programs have a variety of guidelines to qualify, leaving many individuals unable to access these programs. This causes many issues for the individuals and families of Maine and New Brunswick, including being unable to purchase groceries with any nutritional value due to the cost and being unable to meet all basic needs (shelter, clothing, health care, personal care, transportation, etc.) due to spending more on groceries.
Impact:
The cost of groceries is a complex issue with a variety of factors that can impact the issue, however, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2024), U.S. food prices increased by 5% in 2023 compared with 2022 with the historical average of food price inflation being 2.5%. In comparison, Canada’s Food Price Report (2024), expects the average family of four to spend $16,297.20 on food in 2024, which is an increase of up to $701.79 from last year. In conclusion, the people of the United States and Canada are feeling the overwhelming increase in the cost of groceries.
Some statistics for Maine:
- 144,290 people are facing hunger with 36,490 of them being children (Hunger in Maine, n.d.).
- 1 in 10 people face hunger (Hunger in Maine, n.d.)
- 1 in 7 children face hunger (Hunger in Maine, n.d.)
- 33.2% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children (Hunger in Maine, n.d.)
Some statistics for New Brunswick
- The food insecurity rate is 22.7% in New Brunswick (New Brunswick, 2023).
- New Brunswick had the second-highest rate of food insecurity among the 10 Canadian provinces in 2022 (Webmin, 2023).
- 22.7% or 174,000 people in the province live in food-insecure households (Webmin, 2023).
The significant increase in the cost of groceries for individuals and families in Maine and New Brunswick is impacting the level of food insecurity that exists within these areas. The high cost of groceries in areas that are already struggling with food insecurity is detrimental to these individuals and families.
Your Decision Matters:
By adding your signature to this petition, you will be urging authorities at the federal, provincial, and state levels in Northern New Brunswick and Maine to promptly address the escalating grocery prices by providing necessary assistance.If the grocery prices are not stabilized and negotiated within a time frame, the Federal, Provincial, and State Governments should be implementing immediate interventions to stop price gouging and shrink flation within the grocery industry. The Federal government should implement Windfall taxes to the Monopolizing Grocers. These Billion dollar corporations have had record breaking profits preying off the backs of New Brunswick and Maine residents during vulnerable economic periods. Provincial and State levels should demand price freezing and grocery rebate while prices for food stabilize.
References
2023 New Brunswick. Food Banks Canada. (2023, September 29). https://foodbankscanada.ca/poverty-index/2023-new-brunswick/
Food prices and spending. USDA ERS - Food Prices and Spending. (n.d.). https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-prices-and-spending/?topicId=1afac93a-444e-4e05-99f3-53217721a8be
Humes, K. (2023, December 7). Canada’s food price report 2024 predicts Canadians will finally get relief from “sticker‑shock.” Dalhousie News. https://www.dal.ca/news/2023/12/07/canada-food-price-report-2024.html
Hunger in Maine. Feeding America. (n.d.). https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/maine
Webmin. (2023, May 29). Commentary: Political will required to end poverty, food insecurity in New Brunswick. op. https://nbmediacoop.org/2023/05/29/commentary-new-brunswickers-struggling-to-eat/
48
Petition created on March 7, 2024