The prices of fresh vegetables are 17 percent higher than a year ago, compared to the average inflation rate of 2.4 percent, according to data released by Statistics Canada yesterday. Higher prices make it harder for everyone to access healthy and nutritious meals, including students who benefit from a healthy meal to start the school day.

SNPs are more critical than ever. They provide healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks to students, letting them focus on their schoolwork instead of hunger. With produce prices increasing by the double digits for eight months in a row, their work becomes all the more essential.

Read the full article by Erik Hertzberg at the Toronto Star.