Grocery Price Increase By: Desiree Pratt 

With the lingering effects of the pandemic, severe weather, and new tariffs on all recent imports, the discourse on the influx of groceries has been terrible. What used to be a 100$ fully filled grocery cart has now turned into a 100$ cart with only 10-15 items. Which is not nearly enough to feed a family of four, let alone a married couple. Even buying in bulk does not help due to the price being increased all around. Many citizens in America have expressed an extreme change in their shopping habits and have even started becoming strategic about what they're buying, making sure to stay away from specific food groups. Mrs. Day, a Chemistry teacher at Hillgrove, explained, “I have started buying in smaller quantities, and have skipped buying like unless the meat's not on sale. Really, the meat has been the biggest thing. And I have gone a little bit more to like canned things, if I have to, but I try to stay with my fresh fruits and vegetables, but the meat has been where I've sacrificed.”  

Others have exclaimed that they have had to make a major shift in their diet. Even before the pandemic and new tariffs, society agreed that organic food is not accessible to lower income people. Which as a result makes it incredible difficult to maintain a healthy diet. Now it has been made non-accessible for everyone, as the prices are through the roof. Coach Ivey, a History teacher at Hillgrove expressed, “run into health issues like I try and buy organic or, you know, whole wheat, or whatever, you know, pasture raised eggs, or, sorry, free range, instead of, like, you know, pastraiser, you know, just regular. And I can't afford those all the time, and so I have to, you know, decide, do I, you know, make a recipe that my kids will definitely eat, but it's more expensive, you know, to get all the materials and so it's just trying to adapt. It's been really difficult.” Many adults have shared their way of thinking when it comes to shopping and explained a process of elimination to ensure they're getting everything they need while not overspending or indulging in wants and not needs. Coach Lowther, a Basketball Coach at Hillgrove expresses, “If it's not important, then there's no need to buy it, you know. And if you can't afford it, if you can't pay for it in cash, yeah, you can't afford it.” 

The prices are high and there is no sign of them coming down any time soon. It is important to make sure you budget properly, while also remembering that food is vital source to life, it is what keeps you moving every day.