Tomato prices soar in US market, experts blame tariffs and Iran war

Central News Agency, New York, May 29: From fast-food burgers to fine dining, tomatoes are indispensable, yet over the past year, tomato prices in the US have seen the highest increase among all food categories, leaving consumers struggling. Experts believe tariff measures and the Iran war are among the reasons driving up costs. The Associated Press reported that New York chef Isaac Bernal Carbajo lamented, "For many families, even basic things like buying fresh vegetables have become a serious financial decision." According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), tomato prices have risen by about 40% compared to the same period last year, far exceeding the increases for other groceries like coffee (18.5%), roast beef (17.8%), and frozen fish and seafood (12%). The US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for April, released yesterday, rose 3.8% year-on-year, hitting a three-year high. In addition to crop harvests, experts attribute part of the tomato price hike to two pillars of President Trump's second term: the Iran war and tariff measures. The war has driven up oil prices and transportation costs; meanwhile, the US withdrew from an agreement that allowed duty-free tomato imports from Mexico, which is the US's primary tomato supplier. Usha Haley, an economist at Wichita State University, pointed out that this is a "perfect storm of trade policy, extreme weather, and Middle East policy." Currently, tomato imports to the US are subject to a 17% tariff. According to federal data, US tomato tariff revenue has soared from $16,424 in 2024 to nearly $4.6 million, an increase of 27,879%. As costs are passed on to consumers, many are complaining in videos filmed at supermarkets, and some are vowing to grow their own vegetables to avoid prices as high as $8 per pound. However, those most impacted are restaurant operators who rely on tomatoes as a primary ingredient. Phillip Coles, a professor of supply chain management at Lehigh University, stated that prices should fall later this year after the domestic US tomato harvest; he added that rising prices will "encourage farmers to expand planting to meet demand, but considering the crop growth cycle, this takes time."