Stefanie Katzman's celery shipments now cost $11,000 per 3,000‑mile run, a 46% jump from last year, after diesel climbed to $5.66 a gallon.

The farm‑to‑market route that brings California stalks to Bronx warehouses has become a case study in how fuel shocks ripple through the supply chain. Katzman’s logistics arm, already stretched by past price swings, cannot hide the new expense from retailers.

Retailers face higher shelf prices, while consumers see steeper grocery bills. The increased cost may force stores to adjust margins or shift sourcing strategies, tightening the bargaining power of large supermarket chains.

Ultimately, the diesel‑driven surge in transportation expenses signals a broader trend: commodity distributors must absorb rising inputs or risk cascading price hikes that hit end‑users.