Sylvain Charlebois: Summer Produce Should Mean Better Prices, Not Ripoffs

Summer is when local fruits and vegetables should be most affordable, but some retailers are charging excessive prices.

Fresh produce displayed at a grocery store in Toronto on Feb. 2, 2022. The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn

Commentary

When Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables reach the market—typically from June to October—prices become much more stable. Historically, during this window, price fluctuations, the up-and-down swings at the checkout, are about half as volatile as the rest of the year, thanks to seasonal abundance and shorter, domestic supply chains.