Alaska News

Photos: High food prices in Canadian Arctic

Residents of Alaska's far northern reaches are used to high food prices -- shipping to such remote locations as the American Arctic can drive prices sky-high. Fresh foods in particular have a high markup, since they can't stay on the shelves as long as frequently less-healthy alternatives, like canned or frozen goods high in fat or sodium, or sugary soda.

But Americans at the top of the world might have it easier than the residents of Canada's far north, who gathered together on Saturday, June 9 to protest the high prices of food in the region of Nunavut, the northernmost of the Canadian territories.

To that end, residents of Nunavut started a Facebook group, "Feeding My Family," where they posted photos of the protest events in various communities, in addition to some of the most outrageous of food prices in order to back up their claims of unreasonably high costs in the remote region.

Some of the prices will be jaw-dropping for those not familiar with grocery prices in the Arctic -- and even some who are -- including $8 for a half-gallon of milk, a $28 head of cabbage, and $105 for a 24-pack of bottled water.

Grist.org reports that some members of the Facebook group are reporting a drop in prices, though it wasn't entirely clear if the protests Saturday were the cause, nor if the price drop was only temporary.

Read more about the protests and the high cost of food in Nunavut, here.

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