Tomatoes become latest US affordability squeeze symbol
Found everywhere from fast-food burgers to fine cuisine, the tomato is taking on a new role beyond the plate in the United States: a troubling reminder of rising costs.
Prices for these red orbs have increased more than any other food product for U.S. consumers in the past year.
“The tomato has become a symbol of something much deeper,” said New York chef Isaac Bernal Carbajo, who laments that life’s “simplest pleasures” are falling victim to price increases.
“Even something as simple as buying fresh vegetables is starting to become a serious financial decision for many families.”
According to the latest U.S. Consumer Price Index, tomato prices are up nearly 40 percent from a year ago; Increases were minimal for other grocery items, including coffee (up 18.5 percent), roast beef (up 17.8 percent) and frozen fish and seafood (up 12 percent).
A separate inflation gauge released Thursday showed overall prices rose 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, the highest in nearly three years.
Experts say that the increases in tomato prices, in addition to crop yields, are partly due to two pillars of US President Donald Trump’s second-term policies: the Iran war and tariffs.
The war increased oil prices and increased transportation costs.
Meanwhile, the United States withdrew from an agreement that allowed duty-free imports of tomatoes from Mexico, which provides most of the U.S. supply.
It’s a “perfect storm for trade policy, extreme weather and Middle East policy,” said Wichita State University economist Usha Haley.
U.S. tomato farmers welcomed the withdrawal from the tomato accord last July, saying it would help rebuild their shrinking industry.
However, this situation was painful for consumers.
Although the U.S. withdrew from the Mexican tomato agreement in July, it took time to see the impact on the produce aisle, with more imports occurring in late winter and early spring.
When the tomatoes arrived they were slapped with a 17 percent tariff.
“Tariffs are undeniably a big driver of price inflation,” said Brett Massimino, a business professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“Since the U.S. depends on Mexico for the majority of its tomato supplies, any change in trade policy could have a major impact.”
US tariffs on tomatoes have risen from just US$16,424 ($23,000) to nearly US$4.6 million in 2024, according to federal data.
As costs dropped, angry shoppers pulled out their phones in the produce aisle, filmed videos of themselves saying costs had quadrupled, and some vowed to plant gardens to avoid high prices.
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