Farmers market-goers may start seeing higher prices the next time they visit.
It’s a basic principle of economics: when quantity decreases, price increases. Due to the ongoing drought, not only is there less produce, but the season is also shorter, there’s less water to go around, and some farmers have had to deepen their wells. So it makes sense that local farmers have raised their prices.
"We've had to,” says Nikki Thao of Xiong Produce. “Especially with our produce, vegetables. It used to be a dollar a pound, we've had to raise it to $1.50 a pound. Or like $2 a pound."
Thao says the decision was a tough one.
“We were concerned that people may not buy it as much because of the prices, but I think something that we feel that we had to do to keep up with the economy,” she said.
But, why hasn’t more of the produce offered in the farmers markets increased in cost?
It turns out, raising prices on local goods isn’t as easy as changing a sign. While many farmers are struggling with new costs and smaller yields, they would do just about anything before charging their customers more. Here’s
Brian Marshall, of Paradise’s Sawmill Creek Farms, has resisted raising his prices, but has had to make some concessions due the drought.
“We have noticed some reduced yields and probably the plants will stop producing a lot earlier in the season than they normally would,” he said.
This meant having to cancel their CSA program, fearing a lack of variety for their customers.
CSA or Community Supported Agriculture, is a service that allows its members to subscribe to a “share” of the produce made and receive a supply on a weekly or biweekly basis.
“Every year is getting progressively harder - if the drought doesn’t break soon a lot of smaller farms will be in pretty poor shape,” Marshall said.
Laurie Noble, part-owner of Noble Orchards in Paradise, says that her family has been participating in the Chico Farmers Market since its first year, but faces new expenses this year with drought-starved trees dying off.
"And one day I looked at them, the next they were dead,” she said. “So they've got to be removed. That's a cost that we usually don't incur."
Noble says that the trick to staying afloat during the drought is balance.
"The economy in Paradise isn’t particularly in very good shape,” Noble said. “It's not good anywhere in the North State, but we really see it up there. We're holding our costs down and thus you can hold the prices. Gotta find a balance."
Despite everything, each of the farmers unfailingly expressed hopefulness for next year.
"We never know from year to year how it’s gonna go,” said Chet Foster of Lor’s Produce. “We just keep what we got this year and worry about next year when it comes."
"Just keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best,” Foster said. “Say your prayers to the mother nature and hope she comes out and it turns out to be a hell of a rainy season."