US Produce Prices Jump 32% for Lettuce and 20% for Tomatoes as Costs Ripple Through Supply Chain
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jul 16
US Produce Prices Jump 32% for Lettuce and 20% for Tomatoes as Costs Ripple Through Supply Chain
1 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jul 16
Summary
Lettuce prices rose 32% and tomato prices about 20% from June 2025 to June 2026, while all fresh vegetables climbed 10%, extending sticker shock across U.S. produce aisles.
Florida freezes, labor shortages and higher wages tightened supply, while the U.S. move to end duty-free Mexican tomatoes imposed a 17% duty on imports that make up about three-quarters of U.S. tomato supply.
Imports from Mexico also fell 13% year over year, and the Iran war pushed fertilizer prices up more than 20%, nitrogen fertilizer 46%, fuel 27% and refrigerated truck rates 20%.
1 in 3 households reported buying less fresh produce in a May 2026 survey, while 1 in 5 said they had shifted from fresh to frozen produce.
Processed and frozen produce prices rose just 3% and 2.4%, respectively, but broad cost pressures suggest checkout relief is unlikely to come quickly.