Cauliflower's soaring cost affects local businesses

Oil and gas producersare likely watching the price of cauliflower with a mix of awe and jealousy these days.

The price of the white veggiehas skyrocketed thanks to droughts in California and a Canadian dollar that's scraping rock bottom.

Brendan Nichol manages Sunterra Market in the Bankers Hall in Calgary. He says itnormallycosts about $50 for a crate of a dozen cauliflower heads, but the price has gone as high as $90 in the last week.

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"For our Valentine's Day meals, cauliflower soupwas supposed to beone of thesoups, and we've had to readjust our menu for that," he said.

At Bistro Rouge, Paul Rogalskiis struggling to ensure his customers don't pay extra for the restaurant's popular cauliflower fritters, while Sunterra is absorbing some of the costs on its salad bar.

The "cauliflower crisis" has provided ample fuel for social media commentary.

Some were nostalgic for a simpler time.

Others were counting their billions.

Meanwhile, still others were considering the market implications on commodity trading (or something).

There werealso plenty of people dismissing the oft-overlooked veggie.

And some took the time to consider the bigger picture and the privilege of complaining over the cost of a vegetable.