The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has calculated that by Tuesday, February 9, 2021, a Canadian household of average income will have earned enough to pay their entire year's grocery bill.
Each year, CFA examines the proportion of income that Canadians spend on food as a way to explore year-over-year expenditure changes and raise consumers' understanding of Canada's food system, from Farm-Gate-to-Plate.
Canadians spent 11% of their disposable income on food in 2020, which is slightly higher than the 10.9% of disposable income spent on food in 2019. With a significant increase in per capita food and beverage expenditures, up nearly $300 from 2020 to an estimated $4,091, Food Freedom Day has moved back a day to February 9th, 2021.
"Food Freedom Day creates an opportunity to appreciate all that goes into producing our food, each step it takes on the journey from the farm all the way to our plates. Canada has one of the most efficient, safe and affordable food systems in the world and Food Freedom Day is an excellent time for Canadians to appreciate how fortunate we as Canadians are to have access to such a diversity of affordable food," said CFA President Mary Robinson.
CFA says this rise in food expenditures would have seen a more dramatic effect were it not for an increase in household disposable income in late 2020 to mitigate some of the increased cost. The group notes that with continued inflation in the price of many food prices expected through 2021, amidst a challenging financial environment for many Canadians, Food Freedom Day presents an opportunity to highlight all the work producers undertake to produce food efficiently and affordably every day.
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