Fair Food Operator Flags $7.02 Diesel as Spending Tightens at California Fairs
Updated
Updated · Marketplace · Aug 10
Fair Food Operator Flags $7.02 Diesel as Spending Tightens at California Fairs
1 articles · Updated · Marketplace · Aug 10
Summary
Orange County Fair vendor Dominic Palmieri said business has been tight this year and last as working families pull back discretionary spending, making a fair visit more of a special treat.
$7.02-a-gallon diesel is a key pressure point, he said, because it drives the supply chain moving specialty meats from Texas and produce from across California to feed thousands of fairgoers.
Odyssey Foods is still pushing novelty items such as Hot Cheeto cheese pickle pizza while relying on fast-turn sourcing, including strawberries delivered from farm to fair in as little as 24 hours.
Labor supply has improved further from a year ago, Palmieri said, with more applicants showing up at job fairs and more parents bringing teenagers to seek work, while adults with existing jobs still pick up carnival shifts.