Tomato prices rise 40% as US tariffs hit imports

The price of tomatoes has surged more than any other food product over the past year, rising about 40 percent to become a prominent symbol of broader affordability pressures for American consumers and businesses. The increase, reported in the latest Consumer Price Index, far outpaces hikes for other staples like coffee, beef, and seafood.

A separate inflation gauge released recently showed overall prices increased 3.8 percent in April from a year earlier, the highest reading in nearly three years. Economists and business analysts point to a combination of factors driving the tomato spike, including extreme weather affecting crop yields and specific policy decisions.

A significant factor cited by experts is the U.S. withdrawal last July from a deal that had allowed duty-free imports of tomatoes from Mexico, which supplies the majority of America's tomatoes. The move was cheered by domestic tomato farmers who said it would help rebuild their industry. However, tomatoes imported from Mexico now face a 17 percent tariff. U.S. tariffs collected on tomatoes ballooned from just over $16,000 in 2024 to nearly $4.6 million, according to federal data.

Experts also note that conflict in the...