California’s drought still rages on, and soon, that will mean the prices on fresh fruits and vegetables will go up an estimated 6% in the next couple months. Agricultural business experts say the prices will be especially high for avocados, berries, broccoli, grapes, lettuce, melons, peppers, tomatoes and packaged salads.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service, however, is sticking with its forecast that food prices will increase 3.5% this year over last. It did warn that meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables will jump. Given that California’s farmers produce approximately half of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, the effects of California’s drought will be felt across the nation.
Food prices rose half a percent in May, which was the largest rise since August of 2011, the US Labor Department said. And California farmers and agricultural officials expect the hikes to continue into the foreseeable future.
Read more about the prices here.