The Real Cost of Eating Well in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties 2023 Report summarizes the results of the Nutritious Food Basket process.  This process measures the cost of basic healthy eating according to current nutrition recommendations and average Canadian food purchasing patterns.  Food costing is used to monitor both affordability and accessibility of foods by relating the cost of the Nutritious Food Basket to individual and household incomes. In 2023, 23% of households in HPEC experienced food insecurity.