### Your chocolate cravings are costing more here

Good morning from the Atlantic — three provinces, five communities, and the stories that cross every border.

Now look, it's not just your imagination: the price of chocolate is rising across Canada, and that’s hitting our wallets hard as Easter approaches. With global cocoa prices spiking due to everything from poor harvests to geopolitical tensions, that box of Confederation Bridge-shaped chocolates or those local artisan treats from Anne of Green Gables Chocolates are suddenly a lot dearer. It's some shocking to see how far these things travel before they even get here.

This isn't just about a sweet treat, b'y. Our culinary scene in Charlottetown, especially places like the Culinary Institute of Canada right downtown, relies on quality ingredients, and that includes chocolate. When global supply chains get squeezed, and fuel prices go up from things like the Iran war, it means:

* **Higher costs for local businesses:** Small bakeries and cafés that make those delicious chocolate croissants or elaborate desserts have to either absorb the cost or pass it on to us.

* **Impact on tourism:** Our visitors love to try local confections. If those prices get too high, it might just be one less souvenir in the bag.

* **Food affordability:** For families already struggling with the rising cost of fresh produce, this is another pinch on the grocery bill, making special occasions like Easter feel more like a burden.

It’s easy to think of this as a 'luxury problem,' but when you're watching every dollar at the grocery store, every price hike makes a difference. And it means less money circulating in our local economy, which is a real problem here in Charlottetown.

Bridget Chicken-MacPhail, MiTL Sports Desk, Charlottetown.

Rhonda and the gang are diving deep into what’s on your plate this morning – tune in live at mornings.live.