Diesel Tops $6 a Gallon at Harvest: What the New Dyed Diesel Order Means for Farms and Food Prices
The Morning Harvest, No. 001, Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Today in 30 seconds
Diesel averages $6.30 a gallon, up 71 percent from a year ago, in the middle of harvest.
A new federal order lets trucks run on untaxed dyed diesel through December 31.
Frozen organic berries sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's are under recall.
Blackberries leave the shipping point at $14 to $16 a flat and are advertised at about $38.50 a flat in stores.
One blackberry plant can yield 10 to 20 pounds of fruit.
Why are diesel prices so high for farmers right now?
Diesel averages $6.30 a gallon nationally today, according to AAA. A year ago it was $3.68. The record, $6.53, was set on September 22. News reports tie the spike to the conflict with Iran. For farms, the timing is the problem: harvest is when tractors, harvesters, and trucks run every day.
On October 5, President Trump signed an executive order allowing dyed diesel on highways through December 31, 2026. Dyed diesel is off-road fuel, colored red, sold without road taxes. Farmers already use it in field equipment. The order defers the federal tax of 24.4 cents a gallon, about $36 on a 150 gallon fill.
If you farm: the tax is deferred, not cancelled. The American Soybean Association is urging growers to keep records of dyed diesel use and has asked for assurance the tax won't be collected later.
If you rely on dyed diesel: analysts quoted by ABC News and Time warn it is sold in limited locations, and new demand from truckers could tighten supply during harvest.
If you buy groceries: economists cited by ABC News expect almost no change in food prices, since fuel is about 3 to 4 cents of each food dollar.
Sources: AAA, White House fact sheet, Agri-Pulse, ABC News, Time
Which frozen berries are recalled right now?
On October 2, the FDA posted an expanded recall from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of Chile for possible E. coli O145:H28 contamination:
Great Value Organic Blueberries, 10 oz (Walmart): lots 6019 01, 6040 01, 6163 01
Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend, 10 oz (Walmart): lots 6031 01, 6041 01
Trader Joe's Organic Mixed Berry Blend, 12 oz: lot 6051 01
Do not eat these products. Throw them away or return them for a refund.
Also recalled: HOME GROWN Green Sprouting Calabrese Broccoli Seeds, 8 oz, lot AUG172026, sold on Amazon from August 20 to September 18, for possible Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported for the seeds.
Sources: FDA berry recall, FDA seed recall
Why do blackberries cost more than $3 a pack at the store?
Because the farm is only the first stop. USDA's National FOB Review for October 5 shows blackberries from Mexico and California selling at the shipping point for $12 to $16 per flat (twelve 6 ounce packs), mostly $14 to $16, with the market moving lower. "FOB" means the price where the fruit is loaded, before freight.
USDA's retail report dated October 2 shows stores advertising 6 ounce packs at a national average of $3.21, up from $2.73 the week before. Twelve packs at that price is about $38.50 per flat.
The $22 to $24 difference covers cooling, trucking, distribution, store labor, and fruit that spoils before it sells. With diesel at $6.30, the trucking share is not getting smaller.
Blueberries follow the same pattern. Imported Peruvian blueberries are selling at mostly $40 to $42 per flat of twelve pints at East Coast ports. Stores are advertising 9.8 ounce packs at an average of $5.08, compared with $3.86 a year ago.
Sources: USDA National FOB Review, USDA Weekly Retail Report
What produce is in season in October?
Pomegranates and Honeycrisp apples were the most advertised produce items in USDA's latest retail report. Honeycrisp averaged $2.00 a pound, large pumpkins $5.51 each, and sweet potatoes $1.56 a pound. Apples are shipping from Washington, Michigan, New York, and the Appalachian region.
Source: USDA Weekly Retail Report
Can you grow blackberries in your backyard?
Yes, in much of the country. NC State Extension reports that each plant can produce 10 to 20 pounds of fruit, and four to six plants can supply a family of four. Expect a small crop one year after planting and full production after two. Blackberries need full sun, well drained soil, and a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. NC State recommends spring or fall planting in milder areas and spring planting in colder ones, and notes its recommended varieties struggle where winter temperatures drop below 10°F. Your state's extension service can point you to varieties for your climate.
Would you rather have it designed and planted for you? That's what we do.
Source: NC State Extension
How are New Jersey farms getting local food into schools?
More than 500 New Jersey school districts now buy locally grown food, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Of those, 391 run Jersey Fresh programs in the cafeteria and 218 add farm field trips or farmer visits.
On September 25, during Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week, the department gave its Farmer Recognition award to Fairgrown Farm in Hopewell, Mercer County. Brothers James and Alex Klett, both first generation farmers, run the farm with regenerative practices. In 2022 they started the Fairgrown Collaborative, which now partners with more than 40 farms across New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
For anyone thinking about starting a farm, it's a useful model: schools are a steady, local buyer, and small farms can reach them by working together.
Source: NJ Department of Agriculture
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