Produce prices likely up
Suppliers warn that warm weather in southern Colorado, higher fuel costs and fertilizer disruptions are set to push spring produce prices higher across the West, squeezing grocery budgets. Early‑season items may still be affordable, but retailers and farmers expect continued volatility through 2026. (kjct8.com) (supermarketperimeter.com)
Southern Colorado faced an anomalously warm March 16–23 heat ridge that meteorologists flagged as “some of the hottest March temperatures on record” for the state. (9news.com) Local farm reports cite a dry winter and reduced irrigation allocations for 2026 in parts of Colorado, warning of tighter water supplies for spring plantings. (ksjd.org) Analysts list fertilizer prices and constrained global supply chains as a top profitability threat for 2026 after supply tightened in 2025, with industry reporting rising input costs worldwide. (agweb.com) The nitrogen outlook for 2026 remains sensitive to natural‑gas and trade disruptions after 2025 production slowdowns, leaving fertilizer spot markets prone to price swings. (dtnpf.com) U.S. diesel prices have surged, with Energy Information Administration tables showing West Coast diesel averages above $5 per gallon and national retail diesel up sharply in mid‑March 2026. (eia.gov) Retail and ingredient‑sourcing trade coverage says global weather, freight and input costs are already shaping supplier contracts for the year ahead, with food‑industry publications forecasting continued ingredient price volatility through 2026. (supermarketperimeter.com) Wholesale market reports show early‑season California/Baja strawberry volumes and Salinas‑area harvests running ahead of schedule this spring, while desert lettuce shipments are improving after winter disruption—signals that some spring items may be available even as overall costs rise. (seashoreeast.com (primoproduce.com) USDA Economic Research Service forecasts and farm sector analyses list moderating but still‑elevated input costs and shifting acreage as key drivers of food price movement in 2026, supporting industry warnings of ongoing price variability for produce this season. (ers.usda.gov)
