Pallet Prices Are Still Soaring as Shortages Hurt U.S. Producers

California farmers grappling with extreme drought, a labor crunch and logistical snafus can add another headache to the list: wooden pallets.

The platforms used to move watermelons, tomatoes and other bulk produce through the food supply chain have more than doubled in price, shooting up to more than $15 apiece from less than $7 a year ago, said Cannon Michael, a sixth-generation grower in California’s Central Valley agriculture hub.