I'll admit I'm curious about the cost breakdown myself.

I did go ahead and do a query against gemini, and the estimate is 25 cents a box after considering long tail expenses (i.e. fuel, CARB premiums, etc.)

So, Less than you thought and way less than even I initially expected.

Mea culpa on my end, I wonder where the other parts of the price are coming from.

I do have other thoughts, but don't know California labor laws and the like enough to guess.

e.x. I know one big factor in the 'slowing' of inflation of grocery prices in my state over the last 20 years, has been the erosion of pay/benefits for workers. If California is still guaranteeing that for the workers (decent health care, at least a couple weeks of vacation time, etc.) and it's built into the cost... makes sense and TBH I wouldn't hate paying extra for that. Grocers here have with only a few exceptions gotten terrible.