Popular foods Canadians may see shortages of this summer

The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up, and you might already be planning some big summer bashes. But with some pretty wild weather, environmental issues caused by climate change, and economic instability around the world, you may be shelling out more cash for your favourite goodies. Keep your eyes out for sales on these foods or start looking for replacements if you don't want to break the bank at your next summer fiesta.

Bacon & Eggs

Last year's pork shortage caused quite a scare among bacon lovers, who were relieved when prices fell again by winter. But the problem of unsustainable agriculture isn't a temporary one. Even if your bacon is temporarily safe, your eggs may not be.

The effects of an egg shortage caused by avian flu outbreaks are being felt by major restaurant chains like McDonald's and IHOP, who are considering importing eggs from overseas to make up the loss. Other chains, like the Texas franchise Whataburger, are making drastic changes to their breakfast hours to cut back on egg use. Here at home, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is on high alert with dozens of active quarantines across the country.

Avocados

If you love a good summer guac, you better get one in while you still can. More than 80% of the avocados which are imported from the U.S. are grown in California, a state that has been suffering from record-breaking drought for three years, with no end in sight. With avocado sales at all-time highs, suppliers have been relying more heavily on imports from Chile and Mexico. But these countries are not without their own avocado struggles.

Chile too is struggling to keep up with the demand for groundwater, which is being used up by the burgeoning agricultural industry faster than it can be replenished. And Mexico's “green gold” as the fruit is called is controlled almost exclusively by the Caballeros Templarios cartel in Michoacán. Guacamole is big business. So big, in fact, that the University of Arizona predicted avocado prices to rise 28% last year alone. And the drought continues.

Chocolate & Hazelnuts

While big companies seem to be able to manage food shortages fairly well, these troubles have long-term consequences for producers abroad and here at home. Despite some early panic about cocoa shortages, the tropical fruit will, thanks to the creation of a highly productive but terrible tasting hybrid that is being blended with the more traditional cocoa, remain in your grocery aisles for the time being.

Hazelnuts, on the other hand, are a home-grown product. British Columbia's hazelnut harvest fell by more than 60 per cent in 2014 and projections for this year are looking even worse. Ontario is attempting to pick up some of the slack, expanding its 40 hectares of trees to 240 for the season. While more than two-thirds of the world's hazelnuts are produced in Turkey, they have suffered two years in a row of poor harvests. Coupled with blight across the west coast of Canada and the U.S., the price just keeps rising. Your local Ferrero Rocher plant is still up and running, thanks to long-term deals with major producers, but don't be surprised if the hazelnuts start disappearing from your mixed snack bags.

Prosecco

Probably the most devastating news for summer party-goers and morning mimosa lovers, you may want to stock up on your bubbly now, because this summer, wineries are expecting prices to jump and availability to drop. Last month, winemakers in the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene regions of northern Italy announced that flooding last season has severely hindered production, with some vineyards producing only 50 per cent of their usual harvest.

Though it may seem dire, there’s no need to panic. It sounds like the problem should only last the summer, so stock up before you need to make that special toast, or maybe postpone your big day for the fall.

Food shortages seem to be a way of life these days. Though for most of us it merely means a bit of inconvenience at the grocery store, both rising costs at the checkout and shrinking profits for farmers are big problems that will require innovative solutions. But until we manage to reverse climate change and cure all agricultural disease, we should probably just learn to enjoy a summer of cheese dip and sparkling sangria.