Tomato Prices Jump Nearly 40% in April as Tariffs, Weather and Fuel Costs Bite
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 12
Tomato Prices Jump Nearly 40% in April as Tariffs, Weather and Fuel Costs Bite
4 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 12
Nearly 40% higher than a year earlier, tomato prices drove much of April’s grocery inflation as one of the sharpest increases among fresh produce.
More than 70% of U.S. fresh tomatoes come from Mexico, where unusually wet weather and disease cut yields, while freezes in Florida also hit supply.
A roughly 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes added to the squeeze after the Trump administration ended a duty-free import agreement last year.
Fuel-driven shipping and trucking costs compounded the rise, helping push fresh fruit and vegetable prices up 6.5% year over year and overall grocery prices up 2.9%.
Weather, tariffs, or fuel: What is the true culprit behind the 40% tomato price hike?
Beyond tomatoes, is this price shock a warning sign for America's overall food security?