Toni Fontana, happy that supplies at local grocery stores are back to normal, holds up a jug of milk, which was a scarce commodity over the Christmas holidays. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

Perishables such as milk and other dairy products, along with bread, were either out of stock or in very short supply between Christmas and New Year's.

Grocers rely on trucks being able to cross the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence to ensure a steady supply of goods.

But every year that service is periodically interrupted by stoppages in the Merv Hardie ferry service and during winter freeze-up and spring break-up.

Last spring the ice bridge was closed and the ferry not able to run for a month between April 23 and May 22 -- one of the longest and latest break-ups in 35 years.

Late last month, Yellowknifers again watched grocery supplies diminish after the ferry came out of the water between Christmas Eve and Dec. 30.

Some residents found themselves unable to purchase milk, bread, eggs and fresh produce.

"This seems to be the time of year it happens," said Ken Walker, Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op grocery manager.

He noted the problem didn't seriously impact business at the store. "We were out of milk and eggs for a part of one day.

" We flew up a tractor trailer load on the 27th."

The air shipment cost the Co-op about $13,000 extra and Walker said customers were shielded from that cost.

"We never raise our prices (for that reason)," he said.

Running out of product, Walker said, is difficult to prepare for and overstocking is not an option.

"You can't because it's fresh product," he said.

Walker said it is easier to predict when shortages will occur in the spring as the ice bridge begins to break up.

However, they still can't overstock on fresh product.

During that time, he said, they try to stock up on heavier items such as sugar.

Giselle Botani, an Extra Foods shopper, said she thinks a proposed bridge over the Mackenzie River would be a good idea to help prevent food shortages like the most recent one. "It was really sad," she said, describing the situation over the holidays.

"We were really short and it was over Christmas when you really need it."

Botani grew up in Communist Hungary and she said there were some parallels to those experiences.

"People lined up for food. It was like that," she said.