Why tomatoes are worth almost 40% more than a year ago
The price of tomatoes reached record levels in the United States. Here we detail the reasons why they have shot up almost 40% since a year ago
There is so much talk about the increase in the price of gasoline in recent weeks that it overshadows the increase in other items. You may not be aware of how much all products go up in the United States; but it feels, it feels. And if you are very observant, you have probably noticed that there is a staple food that has risen exorbitantly in the last year: the tomato.
According to government data for April, the price of tomatoes increased about 40% compared to the same month last year. The increase far exceeds the general increase in food, which was around 17%.
These figures are supported by those from the Federal Reserve (Fed) which show that the average price reached $2.69 per pound of tomatoes, a record level for this product.
The increase is also higher than that observed in other foods that have registered significant increases in prices. During the same period, coffee rose 18.5%, ground beef rose 19%, and seafood rose 12%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Tariffs on Mexico raise costs
One of the main factors behind this increase is the new trade policy applied by the United States to Mexican tomatoes. A 17% tariff went into effect in July after the US government abandoned a trade agreement that for three decades allowed the entry of Mexican tomatoes without that tax.
The measure benefited some domestic producers, but also raised import costs. Federal data shows that tariff collections on tomatoes went from just $16,424 in 2024 to nearly $4.6 million.
The dependence of the US market on Mexico explains why this change had such an important effect. During 2025, about 90% of tomato imports from the United States came from Mexican territory.
“Given that the United States depends on Mexico for most of its tomato supply, any change in trade policy can have a big impact,” Brett Massimino, a business professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, told CBS News.
Lower production and higher transportation costs
Added to the commercial changes are problems in agricultural production. Adverse weather conditions and some diseases have affected crops in both Mexico and Florida, reducing the available supply.
“What makes it unique is the fact that there is a shortage of tomatoes and there is no shortage of other agricultural products,” said Phillip Coles, a professor of supply chain management at Lehigh University.
Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst known as SupermarketGuru, said rising oil prices are driving up logistics costs. That said in other words means that transportation has also contributed to the increase in prices.
“Due to the war in Iran, transporting tomatoes has become more expensive,” said Lempert.
Tomatoes are often moved in refrigerated trucks that require more fuel to operate. This causes any increase in energy costs to end up being reflected in the price consumers pay.
“When there is a significant increase in a critical cost component, it ends up having a big impact in the end,” Massimino explained. “It's a strange situation that all these things coincide at the same time.”