Citing skyrocketing food prices, the Washington, D.C., area’s prime provider of food for the poor will begin charging its member charities for fresh fruits and vegetables, says The Washington Post.

Starting Friday the Capital Area Food Bank will charge member groups 10 cents a pound for fresh produce, potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars a year to local food pantries’ costs.

Mark McCaffrey, the umbrella group’s chief operations officer, said it has already spent $1-million more than anticipated this year on fresh produce. U.S. food prices rose 3.5 percent in May from a year earlier.

“We don’t want to have to do this, but we’re in such a bind,” Mr. McCaffrey said. “It’s to try and help us out on transportation and food costs so we can keep the healthy food going out the door.”