Restaurant owners facing uphill battle as food prices increase

During a global pandemic, many businesses are facing more rules and regulations than ever before.

Now, increasing food prices are adding to the mounting pressure to stay afloat.

MORE RULES AND RESTRICTIONSTHAN EVER BEFORE.THE OWNER OF 'ME GUSTA TACOS'AND 'THE LOCAL' - LOCATEDINSIDE THE DISTRICT INHENDERSON- SAYS THAT'S NOT ALL.RESTAURANT OWNERS HAVE BEENTAKING PUNCHES LEFT AND RIGHT.CHRIS CONNORS (ME GUSTATACOS/THE LOCAL) "WE'RE IN THERING RIGHT NOW AND WE'RELOSING." ME GUSTA TACOS SERVESUP MODERN MEXICAN FOOD-CARINTAS, BARBACOA..AND KOREAN KALBI TACOS ARE JUSTA FEW MENU OPTIONS.OWNER CHRIS CONNORS SAYSTHEY'RE TAKING A HIT TO KEEPTHOSE ITEMS ON THE MENU.MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS AROUNDTHE COUNTRY HAVE SHUT DOWN DUETO COVID-19 ..AND LESS STRIP PROPERTIES AREBUYING SPECIALTY MEAT.CHRIS CONNORS: "WE SAW ANUPTICK WITH OUR MEAT PRICES, ASIGNIFICANT INCREASE" NOW- HESAYS HE'S SEEING PRODUCE PRICESFOLLOW SUIT.CHRIS CONNORS: "VEGETABLEPRICES ARE ABOUT TO REACH ANALL TIME HIGH FOR US, MEATPRICES, AN ALL TIME HIGH 50PERCENT OCCUPANCY..YOU MIX THOSE THINGS UP ANDTHAT'S HARD" HE SUSPECTSWILDFIRES RAVAGING CALIFORNIAMAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITHIT.SPECIFICALLY- IN SALINASVALLEY."THAT REGION IS BASICALLYCALLED THE SALAD BOWL OF THEUSA" I CHECKED IN WITHCHRISTOPHER VALADEZ- PRESIDENTOF THE GROWER, SHIPPERASSOCIATION OF CENTRALCALIFORNIA TO SEE IF THAT'S THECASE.HE SAYS COVID-19 HAS ALREADYPRESENTED CHALLENGES FORFARMERS AND WILDFIRES IN THEREGION AREN'T MAKING IT EASIER.CHRISTOPHER VALADEZ: GROWERSHIPPER ASSOCIATION "WE HAVEFARMING OPERATIONS THAT WERELOOKING AT CHANGING THEIRHARVEST SCHEDULES FOR ABOUT ATHERE'S NOT AS MUCH SMOKE SOTHEY CAN HARVEST IN A SAFERAREA" VALADEZ ISN'T SURE IFTHIS PRODUCTION DELAY WASENOUGH TO CHANGE PRICES,THOUGH.HE SAYS THAT COULD BE ANOTHERSUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE.