CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Customers are still flocking to the Bluntzer Fruit Stand despite rising prices and shortages.
"We buy a wide range of things of the different specialty oils," customer Jeremy Runnels said. "The jellies, a lot of sweet potatoes."
The shelves at the fruit stand in Robstown remain filled with fruits and vegetables.
“Cantaloupes are a big thing in my house," Runnels said. "My kids love them, especially this time of year."
Owner and manager Bryana Arguijo says the impact of the February freeze didn't end when the temperatures started rising.
"It caused a lot of the season to be cut short,” says Arguijo.
It can take two months for new inventory of Texas-grown summer fruits like watermelons, avocados and peaches to arrive. During that time, prices have nearly doubled.
Within a year the price of watermelon increased from $110 to $200.
Avocados increased from $30 to $54.
Peaches cost $40 when used to be $20.
"Now when it comes available on the market the price is very high," Arguijo said. "It's very expensive and there’s not a whole lot to go around."
However, Bluntzer Fruit Stand is getting some help.
“Recently we have more help so what’s really been helping us is adding these extra pop-up events around the Coastal Bend,” Arguijo said, such as the BUS shop.
The last Saturday of each month, you can find Bluntzer at BUS in downtown Corpus Christi from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Bluntzer Street in Robstown.
