Mississippi’s soaring grocery prices among highest in the nation. Just how bad is it?

The cost of groceries keeps going up. Every week now, a trip to the supermarket costs Mississippi shoppers an average of $290.

That number, calculated by the U.S. Census through a survey at the end of October, is high in a state known for low cost of living. In fact, Mississippi ranks as the fifth most expensive state in the nation for groceries, the survey said, topped only by Hawaii, Alaska, California and Nevada.

The expense is forcing frustrated customers to change their habits. It is also leading to increased need across South Mississippi.

“People are running out of options,” said Michael Ledger, the president and chief executive officer at Feeding the Gulf Coast. “It’s just getting tighter and tighter.”

Why are groceries so expensive?

Grocery costs began rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became harder to staff stores and manufacturing plants. Transporting food grew more expensive after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, which increased the cost of energy and grains. A bird flu outbreak the same year also sent egg prices soaring.

Supply chain issues are now easing, and inflation is down. Food prices are rising at a slower pace.

But groceries are still costly and customers are still frustrated. Prices will probably increase by more than two percent through 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Meat, eggs and fruit still cost more than normal.

One food group recently showed reprieve: Seafood prices fell slightly this fall because of weaker demand.

But the burdens are hitting Mississippi customers harder because the state is the poorest in the country. It also has the highest grocery tax in the United States: 7%. Mississippi is one of 13 states that tax groceries. Some state leaders have said they want to reduce the grocery tax next year.

Need in South MS

Over 400 people have come to the food pantry at The Lord is My Help in Ocean Springs over the last two weeks, said manager Barbara Ruddiman. The organization also feeds 150 people each day.

“Our numbers for the food pantry have really increased,” she said. “People can’t afford to buy groceries.”

Demand is also rising at The Salvation Army in Gulfport and Pascagoula, marketing coordinator Morgan Shiyou said. Salvation Army food pantries help the homeless and have begun to serve more families — some who have never asked for help.

“It’s heartbreaking when you have a parent come in and say they sat in their car for 20 minutes before they even came in,” Shiyou said. “They’ve never been in this situation before.”

Food insecurity is a “growing challenge,” Major Jerry Friday, area commander for The Salvation Army, said in a statement. “We are seeing more families in need than ever before, and it’s our mission to provide support and ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.”

Hunger exploded during the pandemic. Now, four years of high grocery prices are hurting the most vulnerable people, such as children and seniors on fixed incomes, Ledger said: “A whole lot of people are struggling to get by.”

The costs are also forcing nonprofits into overdrive: Feeding the Gulf Coast could serve more than 40 million pounds of food this year. Ledger said the number would be a new record.

How to help

Holiday donations pour into local food banks through December. But Ruddiman said donations usually slow in January, even though people still need help.

Ruddiman said The Lord is My Help most needs protein, such as peanut butter and canned meats. The Lord is My Help is located at 1205 Desoto St. and accepts donations Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. It also accepts donations online.

Shiyou said The Salvation Army is asking for food that working parents can cook for families. They also need easy-to-make food, such as cereal, that children can eat if parents are away working multiple jobs.

Donors can drop off non-perishables at any Salvation Army location. The Salvation Army also accepts donations online or at any participating Red Kettle location.

Ledger said people can give food, volunteer or donate to Feeding the Gulf Coast online. Anyone facing food insecurity can also use Feeding the Gulf Coast’s website to input a zip code and find the nearest food pantry.