With diesel in Riverside County topping $8 a gallon, the operations behind getting food from farms to retailers are taking a big hit.
Here’s what to know
Riverside County farmers say the spike affects almost every aspect of production since fuel is used for both field equipment and hauling, KESQ reported. The price of diesel has now cornered them into a position where they have to choose where to scale back.
While gas prices are rising across the country, Riverside diesel is far more expensive than anywhere else nationwide. AAA data, cited by KESQ, showed diesel at $8.06 a gallon in Riverside County versus a $6.20 national average, and farmers told News Channel 3 that crossing the $8 mark has left them operating with far less room for profit.
Farmers often have little room to absorb a sudden jump in operating costs. Even during steady harvest periods, higher fuel prices eat into profits, making it harder to upgrade equipment and forcing farms to scale back in other areas…