Prof. Simon Somogyi, U of G’s Arrell Chair in the Business of Food, spoke to GlobalNews.ca about why carrot, potato and other root vegetable prices are on the rise.

Somogyi explained that weather conditions often affect food prices and during last year’s harvest, New Brunswick and other parts of eastern Canada experienced heavy rains that decreased root vegetable supplies.

As well, there have been “noticeable slowdowns at the border,” which also affect the supply of vegetables and fruit into Canada and push up prices.

Somogyi is a member of U of G’s Arrell Food Institute and studies agri-food value chain management and agribusiness marketing management.

He co-wrote Canada’s Food Price Report, which found that the average Canadian family can expect to spend more than $400 more on food in 2019, mostly because of more expensive fruits and vegetables.