Gas prices are continuing their seven-week climb, to the dismay
of consumers and farmers in San Benito County.
The average price for unleaded gas in Hollister on Friday was
$2.24 per gallon, slightly below the statewide average of $2.29 per
gallon. Nationwide, drivers top off at $2.02 per gallon.
Hollister residents may not like the increase in price, but they
know there is little they can do about it.
Hollister – Gas prices are continuing their seven-week climb, to the dismay of consumers and farmers in San Benito County.
The average price for unleaded gas in Hollister on Friday was $2.24 per gallon, slightly below the statewide average of $2.29 per gallon. Nationwide, drivers top off at $2.02 per gallon.
Hollister residents may not like the increase in price, but they know there is little they can do about it.
“I don’t like it, but I feel like we need to put gas in our cars,” said Patty Brown.
Brown, who drives a Honda SUV, says she spends about $40 per week on gas. She hasn’t curtailed her driving, but thinks twice before going on a weekend trip, she said.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t go, but it does make me pause,” she said.
People at the pump can expect to see a new record set this year, although whether that will happen within weeks or months is unclear. Fuel prices began to rise starting in the middle of January, according to the American Automobile Association.
“Most of what appears to be driving this right now is high oil prices,” said Sean Comey, a spokesman for the AAA. “The price of the oil goes up, and so does gasoline.”
Farmers too, have felt the increase and responded in different ways. TopFlavor Farms, for example, is discussing buying diesel in bigger quantities than before in order to get a better price, said Richard Silva, an employee.
The lettuce grower is also considering using propane, which would increase the life span of motors, but sacrifice some power of farm equipment.
Anthony Botelho, a San Benito apricot farmer, said he’s already done just about everything he can think of to save money on fuel, from converting spray rigs to a power take off to not tilling the land.
“It definitely makes it more challenging to profit,” he said. “We don’t have any more corners to cut.”
The increase may be the result of gasoline traders taking advantage of an expected increase in people on the road, as is usually the case in summer months, said AAA’s Comey.
Another reason for the spike is spring is the time when many refineries shut down a portion of their operations in order to do maintenance on the equipment, said Graham Mackie, vice president of Dassel’s Petroleum, a Hollister fuel distributor.
“Both gas and diesel in California are highly volatile,” he said. “And now there is barely enough production to meet the demand.”
Some analysts predicted up to a 25-cent increase last weekend, March 4 through 6, and while that wasn’t the case, prices did continue to rise. Statewide, the price of regular self-serve increased 7.55 cents between Feb. 19 and March 4 to reach $2.20 per gallon.
Despite some doom-and-gloom predictions about the cost of unleaded gasoline spiking close to $3 per gallon, drivers shouldn’t panic, said AAA’s Comey.
“If people rush out and fill up their tank when they ordinarily wouldn’t, it can create false demand,” he said.
Staff Writer Lori Stuenkel contributed to this report.
Karina Ioffee covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
