Tribune/Debra Reid - Bing and Rainier cherries were rolled out by Jose Ocampo for Thursday's Farmers Market. The cherries were picked that morning and trucked in from Stockton, California, said Ocampo.
“Gas prices have affected us,” said Carol Vail, sales marketer for Mehl Berry Farm for 15 years. “So I’ve had to raise prices. And people aren’t buying as much.”
To transfer strawberries back and forth from Watsonville, Calif. to Sacramento costs about $230 for the truck’s tank of gas, Vail said.
“Everything’s more expensive,” she said.
Tim Boughton, owner of Amber Oaks Raspberries in Auburn, said his business is “definitely” being hurt by fuel prices. But the farm has not cut back on traveling throughout northern Nevada and California.
“I farm full-time for a living, and I need to travel to make enough money,” Boughton said.
Roscoe Zuckerman participates in his family’s third-generation farm in Stockton, Calif. He said he only came to the Sparks Farmer’s Market because he was promised he would make money.
“Gas is affecting us in coming to markets — and on the ranch.” Zuckermann said. “Diesel is super high. Everything is super high.”
Zuckermann’s Farm has yet to curb the amount he is traveling or the prices he is charging customers, Zuckermann said.
“It’s tough,” Zuckermann said. “It’s tough. It cuts into our bottom line basically is where we’re at.”
Farmer’s Market will be held every Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. until Aug. 21. There will be no Farmer’s Market on Aug. 7 due to Hot August Nights.
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