A Western Massachusetts farm says it may face higher fertilizer costs as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies and it's a potential increase that could ultimately raise the price of vegetables for consumers.
E. Cecchi Farms co-owner Michael Cecchi said his greenhouse fertilizer supply is secure for now, but he is concerned about fertilizer for his vegetable fields. Fertilizer ingredients are sourced globally, including from Iran. "As long as we have everything, our seeds and fertilizers are here, we can just keep going as scheduled," Cecchi said.
The Cecchi family has sold plants and fresh vegetables since 1946. Cecchi said fertilizer is essential to crop production. "Fertilizer is like food for people. You need food. The plant will grow, but it won't be healthy, it won't produce, it won't yield, the flowers won't be as abundant, it won't look as nice," he explained.
Cecchi said he has seen supply disruptions before. When Russia invaded Ukraine, fertilizer became scarce and prices spiked. "Back when the Ukraine war started, fertilizer was very scarce and hard to come by and we were waiting for it and we needed it and it wasn't coming in. The price was sky high," he noted.
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