• Food Food

Shoppers scramble as everyday grocery items surge in price: 'Low arrivals'

It's a growing global problem.

Tomatoes are a vital food crop in India, but poor crop yields have caused tomato prices to soar.

Photo Credit: iStock

Poor crop yields in India have driven up tomato prices, making it more difficult for many people to afford the pantry staples.

What's happening?

Climate-related factors, such as heavy rains and fluctuating temperatures, have impacted crop yields in India's tomato-growing regions, The Hindu reported

Combined with high seasonal demand, this low supply has caused tomato prices to rise dramatically.

Tomatoes are a vital food crop in India, but they are susceptible to the impacts of warming global temperatures. As temperatures increase, water evaporates more quickly, disrupting typical rainfall patterns. Consequently, India has seen an increase in heavy rains and flooding, as Agence France-Presse detailed, via Barron's.

The Hindu reported that heavy November rains limited crop yields. As a result, the Madanapalle Agricultural Market Yard has been receiving 77 tons of tomatoes a day, down from its daily average of about 881 tons.

"Such low arrivals are rare for Madanapalle," one trader told the outlet.

FROM OUR PARTNER

Perk up the winter blues with natural, hemp-derived gummies

Camino's hemp-derived gummies naturally support balance and recovery without disrupting your routine, so you can enjoy reliable, consistent dosing without guesswork or habit-forming ingredients.

Flavors like sparkling pear for social events and tropical-burst for recovery deliver a sophisticated, elevated taste experience — and orchard peach for balance offers everyday support for managing stress while staying clear-headed and elevated.

Learn more

Why are rising food prices concerning?

Expensive food prices are a growing global problem as rising temperatures affect crop yields.

Tomato shortages in Australia, Spain, and California have led to increasing ketchup prices worldwide, and sky-high tomato prices have been a problem in India for years.

However, the issue runs deeper than tomatoes. High temperatures have raised the price of staple crops like wheat and potatoes, making it harder for people around the world to afford the food they need to survive.

What's being done about rising food prices?

Scientists are working on engineering crops that are more tolerant to weather conditions like drought and flooding. At the same time, people and governments need to limit the amount of carbon dioxide they emit to curb global warming at its source.

People can also make individual changes to their grocery shopping habits to cut down on food prices as much as possible. Choices like cutting down on food waste and buying discounted, "ugly" produce can help you limit your grocery spending while ensuring that less food winds up in landfills.

What's the most you'd pay per month to put solar panels on your roof if there was no down payment?

$200 or more 💰

$100 💸

$30 💵

I'd only do it if someone else paid for it 😎

Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.

Cool Divider