With the combination of a weak loonie, inflation and some weather disruptions, fresh produce has seen an increase year over year.

According to the Consumer Price Index, released by Statistics Canada, food prices increased by four per cent in January 2016, compared to the same month a year earlier. But fresh vegetables were up 18 per cent over that period, while the price of tomatoes alone shot up 30 per cent from the previous month.

Lettuce was up nearly 18 per cent in January, compared to a year earlier, while other fresh vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, celery and peppers, registered their largest year-over-year increase since April 2009, rising 23 per cent over the previous year.

Fresh fruit was up nearly 13 per cent for the year, with apples rising 16.6 per cent and oranges 11.

Produce Manager at the Central Plains Co-op in Rosetown, Tammy Mcgonical said despite some higher than average prices, people are still finding a way to get their fresh fruits and vegetables. Tammy said part of it is people are eating more health conciously and that includes more fresh produce, no matter the price. She also went on to state how fluctuations in the pricing of certain specific fruits and vegetables have led to people to be more aware of when things go on sale.

The most common fresh produce that people have stopped buying due to cost are broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, oranges, and apples, with apples alone having jumped 23.4 per cent in price in the last year, according to Statistics Canada. Experts believe that food inflation in Canada will surpass the general food inflation.

Fresh produce prices are expected to rise between two to four per cent in the next year.