NEW YORK — Tomato prices in the United States surged by approximately 40% over the past year, the largest increase among all products tracked in the Consumer Price Index. The spike followed the U.S. withdrawal in July 2025 from a duty-free trade deal with Mexico, after which tomatoes imported from Mexico were subjected to a 17% tariff.

Mexico supplies the majority of tomatoes consumed in the U.S., and the price impact of the new tariff became visible in grocery stores in late winter and early spring 2026. Tariff revenue collected on tomatoes rose dramatically, increasing from $16,424 in 2024 to nearly $4.6 million in 2025—a 27,879% jump—according to federal data.

Prices have risen across all tomato varieties, with grape tomatoes seeing a 65% increase in one month alone, according to MarginEdge, a firm that tracks restaurant ingredient costs. Some shoppers reported prices as high as $8 per pound, quadrupling from previous levels.

“Tariffs are undeniably a big driver of the price inflation. Because the U.S. relies on Mexico for the majority of its tomato supply, any changes in trade policy can have a large impact,” said Brett Massimino, a business professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Restaurants have faced steep cost increases as a result. Wayne Humphrey, chief operating officer of Snarf’s Sandwiches, said the cost of a case of tomatoes rose from $27 to $93 over one year. He added that the increased cost now adds more than $1.7 million annually to the company’s expenses.

Consumers are also adjusting their habits. Some have vowed to plant home gardens to avoid paying elevated prices at stores. Isaac Bernal Carbajo, a New York City chef, said, “The tomato has become a symbol of something much deeper. Something as basic as buying fresh vegetables is starting to become a serious financial decision for many families.”

American tomato farmers had supported the 2025 trade withdrawal, arguing it would help rebuild their shrinking industry.