Central Virginia Eateries and Food Trucks Struggle with Surging Fuel Costs

Rising prices for diesel, propane, and ingredients force small businesses to raise menu prices

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:35am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a stack of receipts, a calculator, and a fuel pump nozzle arranged on a clean white background, symbolizing the financial pressures facing local eateries and food trucks due to rising operating costs.As fuel and supply costs soar, small food businesses in Central Virginia struggle to keep prices affordable for their customers.Charlottesville Today

Restaurants and food trucks in Central Virginia are facing significant financial strain due to surging fuel costs and supply chain disruptions. Business owners like Jessica Lino of Farmacy Cafe and Jayson Johnson of Crozet Seafood Supply report having to raise prices for customers to offset the increases in their operating expenses, from filling up food truck tanks to purchasing ingredients.

Why it matters

The surge in fuel and supply costs is putting immense pressure on small, local food businesses that rely on mobility and tight margins to serve their communities. As these costs get passed on to consumers, it could lead to reduced access to affordable dining options and food insecurity, especially for lower-income residents. The situation also highlights the vulnerability of the regional food system to global events and the need for more resilient, localized supply chains.

The details

Farmacy Cafe, which started as a food truck and now has a storefront, says filling up their truck's diesel tank has become significantly more expensive. They've also seen the cost of key ingredients like organic green peppers rise by $30 per case. Similarly, Crozet Seafood Supply, which operates a restaurant and food truck, has seen its propane bill jump by 20% and is bracing for further price hikes from its seafood suppliers, who are also grappling with higher diesel costs for their fishing boats.

  • The war in Iran began driving up diesel costs in early 2026.
  • Farmacy Cafe says they use their food truck 4-5 times per week during the busier season.
  • Crozet Seafood Supply is entering its peak spring and summer months, when fuel costs will have the greatest impact.

The players

Jessica Lino

The owner of Farmacy Cafe in Charlottesville, Virginia, which started as a food truck and now has a storefront on the Downtown Mall.

Jayson Johnson

The owner of Crozet Seafood Supply, a restaurant and food truck operation on Route 250 in Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“It's just tough”

— Jessica Lino, Owner, Farmacy Cafe

“We're getting hit from a number of different angles”

— Jayson Johnson, Owner, Crozet Seafood Supply

“If we have to raise prices at the same time that our customers are maybe going to tighten their belts, that's not a good combination”

— Jayson Johnson, Owner, Crozet Seafood Supply

What’s next

Jayson Johnson says Crozet Seafood Supply is closely monitoring fuel costs and will have to make decisions about pricing and event schedules in the coming weeks as the busy spring and summer seasons approach.

The takeaway

The surging fuel and supply costs are putting immense pressure on small, independent eateries and food trucks in Central Virginia, forcing them to raise prices for customers even as they worry about the impact on their businesses and the local community's access to affordable dining options. This situation highlights the vulnerability of the regional food system to global events and the need for more resilient, localized supply chains.