Parker Street Food Bank says high food costs means less for clients

One of Halifax's busiest food banks is handing out half the amount of food it did last year, leaving more people struggling to fill their cupboards this fall.

"We would give out two banana boxes full probably, plus some bread and probably some extra treats or something like that, and we're down to one banana box and maybe some bread on top of that," said Kevin McKay, operations manager of Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank.

One of the reasons is higher food prices.

For instance, beef has jumped 6.3 per cent in the last year alone. The average price per kilogram in August 2015 according to Statistics Canada was $12.66, compared to $10.86 in August 2014. The price in 2011 was $8.27.

Another reason for the drop at Parker Street is the fact food reclamation companies are no longer donating excess goods to just one food bank.

"The food reclamation companies go to the stores and get the dented cans, the open bags of flour, those kind of things and they used to have that go to a warehouse in Dartmouth. Now, that's being distributed locally," said McKay.

While Parker Street isn't getting as many dented cans, other food banks in rural communities are reaping the benefits.

That's left McKay and his team no choice but to shop for groceries, rather than rely on donated items.

"Pasta is a lot more expensive than I expected," he said. "We were looking at one of the wholesale locations here, and for us to go buy 600 kilos of pasta, you're looking at $1200 and that's eye-opening."

Shoppers also cutting back

At the grocery store, shoppers are also feeling the effects of higher food prices.

"I haven't been buying meat because I can't afford it," said Brenda Gilks. "I don't buy as much fresh vegetables like I used to. I buy more frozen because they're cheaper."

Samantha Askheim says she is buying chicken and pork instead of beef, along with other cost-cutting measures.

"A lot of things now like bread, we're making that at home," she said. "In general, we make a lot of the snacks homemade."

In its consumer price index, Statistics Canada lists many other products that have risen in the last 5 years. A 500 gram package of bacon has jumped from $5.19 in 2011 to $6.65 in 2015. The average cost of oranges increased 53 cents, while the average price of a 500 gram jar of peanut butter has gone up 66 cents