'It just keeps going up': How rising milk prices are affecting the cost of dairy
The cost of milk is going up again.
On Feb. 1, the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) increased the "farm gate milk price" by 2.2 per cent.
And with higher milk prices come similar increases for products that use it as an ingredient.
Before every pizza goes into the oven at Calabria Market, it is buried in a mountain of cheese.
A mountain that is becoming more costly to build, said CEO Cathy Wozny.
"Oh my god! It just keeps going up! It's getting a little hard to make these beautiful recipes and still use the amount of cheese that we have to put in our recipes," she said.
The increasing price of cheese is directly related to the price of milk, which has gone up 13 per cent since last February.
Wednesday's price increase was the third hike for milk in the last year.
Food Fare owner Munther Zeid said they have no wiggle room when it comes to pricing.
"Milk, yogurt, cheese, it goes up. Once one goes up, they all go up! Will it ever go down? It would be amazing to see," Zeid said.
CDC CEO Benoit Basillais said the increases are needed to help dairy farmers who are dealing with serious inflationary pressures.
"It's a very tough situation that producers are faced with. Everything is going up. The feed they buy is more expensive because the fuel went up," said Basillais.
David Wiens, chair of the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba said the raising of milk prices was critical for his operation.
"Without these increases it would have been awful out here. And we would not have our heads above water as we do now," said Wiens.
Wozny said Calabria Market is not willing to sacrifice quality by reducing the amount of cheese it uses. But she said it doesn't feel right raising her own prices.
"It's just not possible. How high can you go on a pizza," she said, adding that they will just have to eat the price increase themselves.
The CDC said raising milk prices can't be the only solution, so it is looking for more international markets where Canadian milk can be sold.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada makes amendments to foreign homebuyers ban – here's what they look like
Months after Canada's ban on foreign homebuyers took effect on Jan. 1, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has made several amendments to the legislation allowing non-Canadians to purchase residential properties in certain circumstances.

'Leave this with me': Alberta premier heard on call with COVID-19 protester
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in a leaked cellphone call, commiserated with a COVID-19 protester about his trial while divulging to him there was an internal dispute over how Crown prosecutors were handling COVID-19 cases.
What is the grocery rebate in federal budget 2023? Key questions, answered
To help offset rising living expenses, the Government of Canada has introduced a one-time grocery rebate for low- and modest-income Canadians. Here is what we know about the rebate.
RCMP arrest 5 while executing search warrant at Wet'suwet'en protest camp
RCMP officers executed a search warrant at a protest camp on Wet'suwet'en traditional territory near the under-construction Coastal GasLink pipeline Wednesday.
'Compostable' food packaging may contain hazardous 'forever chemicals': Canadian study
As Canada phases out single-use plastics, more restaurants are opting to use 'compostable' takeout containers. But a new study suggests some of these supposedly eco-friendly containers may pose hazards to our health and the environment.
Could Usain Bolt outrun a 900-pound dinosaur? Physics professor poses the question
A new academic paper pits legendary sprinter Usain Bolt against a 900-pound dinosaur to see who could run a 100-metre distance the fastest.
Recalled in Canada: Change tables over entrapment hazard, hoodies due to risk of choking
Health Canada has issued two recalls, one for change tables over an entrapment hazard and another for bamboo nursing hoodies due to a risk of choking.
Many Canadians like to tell 'white lies' about home-cooked meals: survey
Have you ever had to lie about the quality of a home-cooked meal to protect someone's feelings? According to a new survey by Research Co. you’re not the only one.
Spending to increase economic capacity is fiscally responsible, Freeland says in post-budget defence
Defending her latest federal budget, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said spending that increases economic capacity is fiscally responsible.