Independent grocers call for milk price pause amid pressure to keep food costs down

The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers is calling on the Crown corporation that manages dairy supply and pricing to hit pause on any further increases to milk prices amid political pressure to keep food prices down.

The Canadian Dairy Commission reviews the price dairy farmers are paid for their milk every fall and announces whether that price will increase or decrease the following February.

The federation’s senior vice-president Gary Sands wrote in a letter to the commission Friday that the grocery industry is in an exceptional situation this year.

The food industry is currently under pressure to keep prices stable, with Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne calling on the major grocers to come up with plans to stabilize prices.