Americans are paying up to 40% more for their vegetables than in 2021, and drought is a big reason for the price hike.
A new report from Daily Mail says the increase is due, in large part, to states that grow fresh produce getting hit with water cuts because of droughts and storms destroying some crops as well.
For example, Arizona produces 90 percent of the leafy greens in the U.S. and experienced its worst drought in 1,200 years.
Water levels in the Colorado River are dramatically low, cutting down on the amount of water available to farmers.
No relief is coming for Arizona’s farmers as officials will cut Arizona’s water intake from the Colorado River by 21% starting on January 1, 2023.
The nation’s top agricultural state, California, is also getting hurt by severe drought.
The biggest increase was a 38% jump in the price of fresh and dry vegetables.
