PLANT CITY, Fla. — Higher prices are having a big impact on companies that rely on gas to keep their businesses running, including local farms.
What You Need To Know
G&G Palm Center Nursery is being impacted by high gas prices
The recent cold snap caused significant damage, requiring more work and diesel fuel for tractors
Rising costs, including gas and palm tree prices, are affecting the nursery’s budget
The nursery anticipates needing six months to recover and get fully operational again
Jorge Guerrero is navigating the cleanup to get his palm trees back to the way they were before the recent cold snap.
“It just hurts you know losing 80 to 90 percent of the nursery and still having to hustle and strive,” he said.
Jorge’s parents opened G&G Palm Center Nursery in Plant City back in 2007.
They grow most of the palm trees themselves, but recently they’ve also had to bring in extra inventory from Miami.
Trips that were usually two to three times a month are now two to three times a week, increasing their spending on gas, but that’s not all.
With all the damage from the recent cold snap, it’s meant more work to pick up the damaged palm leaves that’s now increased their tractor usage.
“We’re putting diesel in these tractors at least every three days, we’re going through at least 15 gallons a week,” Jorge said.
Petra Guerrero, Jorge’s mom, says the rising costs are adding up quickly.
“The prices in Miami — they’re getting higher because they know we have a problem here, we can say roundtrip we spent $150 or $200 extra than we spent before,” she said.
Despite the rising costs, Jorge says he’s staying positive for now.
The palm tree nursery says it’ll take about another six months to get its center in Plant City back up and running.
The nursery also operates a second location in Dover.