Peak Season, Low Profits: Ventura County Strawberry Farmers Face Fuel Cost Crisis

OXNARD, Calif.— Farmers are navigating peak harvest season under growing financial pressure.

For local grower Uriel Hernandez, the fields are full, but profits are not.

“We're in Oxnard, California, so it's pretty much strawberry country,” Hernandez said. Despite a strong harvest, he says rising fuel costs are cutting deeply into his bottom line.

Hernandez estimates his farm uses about 200 gallons of diesel each week to power tractors, irrigation systems, and transportation. Just months ago, in December, he was paying a little over $3 per gallon for dyed diesel fuel. Now, that price has climbed dramatically.

“The last time we filled up, it was $11.50,” he said. “That’s about a 40% increase since December started.”

The surge in diesel prices has been especially sharp in recent months, with global tensions—particularly the ongoing Iran war—contributing to rising fuel costs.

According to AAA, average diesel prices have jumped from around $5 a year ago to approximately $7.50 today.

For strawberry farmers, diesel isn’t a luxury—it’s essential.

“We’ve got trucks and flatbeds moving product from the field to the cooler for processing and then to the consumer,” Hernandez explained.

Without fuel, the supply chain breaks down, but farmers are looking for ways to adapt.

Strawberry farmer Paco Flores says he’s constantly looking for ways to stay afloat in a challenging economic environment.
“You are constantly thinking—how can you be more efficient with labor? How can you increase yield? How can you reduce pesticide usage, water usage? Try to be as efficient as possible,” Flores said.

While fertilizer costs have also increased, both farmers agree that diesel prices are currently the most significant burden.

As peak strawberry season continues, farmers in Oxnard face an uncertain outlook. With fuel prices remaining volatile, even a strong harvest may not be enough to offset rising operating costs.

For now, growers like Hernandez and Flores are focused on efficiency—hoping to preserve margins in a season that should otherwise be their most profitable.