Farmers and vegetable vendors in Karnataka, India, are sounding the alarm about the impact of heavy rains on produce prices.

What's happening?

Unseasonal rain in Karnataka, where much of India's vegetables are grown, has made it difficult for certain crops to thrive, according to The Times of India. 

As a result, prices have risen as high as 50% for certain veggies and other fresh produce. Tomatoes, carrots, coriander, and okra harvests have been particularly impacted.

"Tomato is an essential vegetable in every household," Maula Mujawar, a vegetable vendor, told The Times of India. "The rain flooded the soil, which killed the crops. It's not happy news for us either, as the customers don't get delighted by it."

Mujawar added that the quality of the few vegetables available is often worse than a typical season. This results in more expensive, lower-quality produce — and unhappy buyers.

Why are rising food prices concerning?

The impact of warming global temperatures can often feel far away. However, extreme weather events like this show that the issue can affect us all, especially when it comes to food budgets. 

As the planet overheats, it creates more moisture in the atmosphere, leading to supercharged storms and other natural disasters.

This not only puts people's livelihoods at stake, but it also threatens our food supply. The rains in Karnataka have led to a shortage of critical home-cooking staples like tomatoes, driving prices up. 

Increased grocery costs disproportionately affect lower-income families and exacerbate food insecurity. When money is tight and produce aisles are sparse, it's a harsh reminder that a shifting climate is hurting households. 

What's being done about rising food prices?

We can take steps to curb pollution, such as limiting our use of dirty energy sources like gas and coal. This can help slow the pace of rising temperatures that cause crop-destroying weather events. 

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There are ways to safeguard ourselves from volatile food prices, too. We can all shop smarter at the grocery store in order to save money and reduce waste. 

Meanwhile, growing your own food can help to cut grocery store costs. Home-grown ingredients often taste much better, and they can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

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