Rising fuel prices amid war with Iran could start impacting several goods and services locally

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Rising fuel costs amid the war with Iran could start having an impact on several goods and services locally, as prices at the pump have hit local businesses, government agencies and agricultural work.

Tulare County farmers, who rely on diesel for daily farm operations, say they are feeling the impact.

"In the fall, we were buying mid-3's $3.60, $3.80, maybe. Then, as things progressed in the Middle East, the price went up about $1, we started getting it at $4.80. Then I bought some last week and it was $6," says local farmer, David Borba.

Borba mentions he is doing what he can to help lower output costs, such as putting in more hours on the farm and taking on more duties himself.

"It's always getting passed on to the end user, whether it be the farmer producing the crops or the people paying for it. You're going to see that increase when you go to the grocery store. You are going to see it because of the supply chain," explains David.

Tulare County Assistant Agricultural Commissioner, Christopher Greer explains, "All that does trickle down into wages, into outputs of what's going to happen. It's going to go down to the packing facilities. Packing facilities also have input and output costs of fuel, gasoline and diesel, so it's just this trickle effect."

AAA estimates the average cost of diesel in the state is currently about $7.75.

That's almost $3 more than this time last year.

Local construction companies also say they have seen the rise in fuel cause material prices to go up.

Kevin Bernardo owns Bernardo Construction Company, he says, "It's gotten much more of an impact than people think. As a business owner, it's not fun to pay the prices that we are paying, but again, it's being passed down even further than that."

With ongoing uncertainty over control in the strait of Hormuz amid the war with Iran, the future is still unclear.

But local farmers, business owners and government agencies say, ultimately, the consumer may be paying a higher price.

For South Valley news updates, follow Kassandra Gutierrez on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.