Kids in Alberta might have a new excuse to get out of eating their vegetables, as bad weather in the US is driving up the prices of leafy greens.

“It's a lot of the greens, so a lot of the lettuces, the kales, we're seeing increases in also cauliflower, but a lot of the leafy lettuces are,” said Scott Bladon, the manager of Blush Lane Organic Market on Whyte.

Blane says prices have gone up by as much as 30 per cent in the last week due to volatile weather in California, which supplies many of the vegetables found in Alberta stores.

“There's been poor crops in California which is increasing the prices," he said. "There's been some freezing, cooler temperatures."

Daren Hollman, manger of H & W Produce, says unusually cold weather in Mexico and Chile have also damaged fruit crops like cherries and blueberries. In some cases, such as grapes, he says prices have doubled and products that make it to Canada are of a lower quality.

“You're seeing browning on the product and basic freeze damage,” Hollman said.

“We're totally at the mercy of mother nature ... nothing to be done.”

Prices are expected to return to normal when the next crops are ready for harvest in about three weeks.