Do Tomatoes Seem More Expensive This Summer? You're Not Imagining It

Tomatoes are the latest staple to see a price hike. Between January and April 2026, prices rose by about 40% — the biggest three-month increase since 2006.

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Tomatoes have outpaced other rising groceries, including coffee (up 18.5%), beef roasts (up 17.8%), and frozen fish and seafood (up 12%).

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Social media is full of videos of outraged shoppers staring at the astonishing prices and vowing to grow this key ingredient themselves.

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A slight digression: if you’re seriously thinking about growing tomatoes, it’s not out of reach. Tomatoes are, in fact, one of the easiest vegetables (rather, fruits) to grow. They can thrive in small spaces, but need regular watering and about eight hours of sunlight.

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So what’s causing this price rise? The same familiar mix: tariffs, war, and climate change.

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Why Are Tomato Prices Increasing?

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Most of the tomatoes (~90%) in the U.S. come from Mexico. Drought conditions in 2025, during the planting months of October and November, followed by unseasonal rains in January 2026 that exposed the crop to fungal diseases, created a supply shortage.

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Florida, which also supplies some portion of the tomatoes in the early months of the year, was hit by winter storms in late December 2025 and January 2026, and an estimated 80% of the state’s tomato production suffered losses due to that. As a result, the mature green tomatoes that are often grown in Florida reached their highest price in 25 years.

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Other factors are contributing to the price rise, too: U.S. tariffs on Mexican imports (including tomatoes), a stronger peso that has led farmers to plant fewer tomatoes, and rising gas prices driven by the Iran war, which have increased shipping costs and extended timelines.

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Also read: How to Recession-Proof Your Grocery Cart

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Manage Your Grocery Budget as Tomato Prices Rise

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Fresh produce is becoming a serious financial decision for many families. Here are a few ways to soften the impact of higher tomato prices.

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If you already have tomatoes on hand, preserve them so they last longer. Here’s The Ultimate Guide to Preserve Tomatoes.

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Because tomatoes are highly perishable (thin skin and high water content), store them carefully to keep them fresh longer. Here are 7 Tips to Keep Tomatoes Fresh Longer.

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If you need to cut back, consider these tomato substitutes until prices cool down:

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• Red bell peppers: Roast and blend for a sweet, tomato-like base in pasta sauces, curries, stews, or as a sandwich/cracker spread (add vinegar for acidity).
• Pumpkin or squash: Roast to get soft, mildly sweet flesh that works as a blended sauce for pasta dishes.
• Carrots: Roast and blend for natural sweetness in stews and pasta sauces, or cook down into a carrot ketchup.
• Vinegar: Add a dash (e.g., apple cider vinegar) to pepper or pumpkin sauces to mimic tomatoes' signature acidic tang.
• Vegetable stock: Use as a flavorful liquid base for soups and stews that would normally rely on tomatoes.
• Apple juice: Swap in as the sweet fruity base for stews and sauces.
• Tamarind: Use the paste in curries, stews, or chutneys for a tart-sweet punch similar to tomatoes.
• Spices (sweet paprika, turmeric, ginger, ground coriander): Add for aromatic warmth and a zingy, slightly acidic kick in place of tomato flavor.
• Fruits (stone fruits, cucumber, berries): Use fresh and sliced in salads and sandwiches for sweetness and tang where raw tomatoes would go.

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