BAKERSFIELD, CA. - You may notice this year when you purchase your pumpkin that prices are slightly higher than last year, and that would be mainly due to the drought.
But, Gary Reed from Murray Family Farms, says the small increase in price was mostly absorbed by farmers and did not hamper the marketability of pumpkins this year.
He says that the big box stores like Walmart or Home Depot purchase most of their pumpkins a year ahead of time, so they can guarantee they have what they need to stock their stores the following Fall. Those are the prices he predicts will increase dramatically next year.
Gary Reed says there are actually three things that hit next year that are all going to cost the consumer a lot of money. The first is the drought, the second is the 12 percent increase in minimum wage, and the last is the Affordable Care Act, which will go into effect for farmers.
Murray Family Farms is not the only farm hit with higher prices.
We spoke with Banducci Farms as well, and farmers there said the same thing: when you increase production cost, farmers have no choice but to increase pumpkin prices for the consumer.