Freight costs have doubled. Input prices have risen. These increased expenses will have a snowball effect, believes Florida watermelon farmer Laura Land.
Land said the pallet shortage is a serious shortage and a serious problem, especially as she prepares for the upcoming harvest for her North Florida watermelons. She still doesn’t have enough pallets to ship on with harvest less than three weeks away.
What pallets she’s able to find will be considerably more expensive than what she’s used to paying. Renting pallets usually cost around $5.50, but it’s now closer to $11 or $12 per pallet now.