with Hope Beel:
PLANT CITY, Fla. — Higher prices are having a big impact on companies that rely on gas to keep their businesses running, including local farms.
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.
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