Brian Snyder/Reuters via CNN Newsource
Tomato prices are climbing sharply, rising nearly 23 percent from this time last year, according to recent market data. And with new U.S. tariffs on tomatoes imported from Mexico — one of the country’s largest suppliers — shoppers may see even higher prices in the months ahead.
The 17 percent tariff took effect earlier this year, adding uncertainty to an already volatile produce market. Tomatoes are among the items seeing the steepest increases, leaving many consumers searching for ways to cut costs.
Some are turning to their own backyards.
At Stan’s Garden Center in Erie, owner Josh Skarzenski said the full impact of the tariffs hasn’t reached local growers yet, largely because garden centers plan far in advance.
“We prepare a year, literally a year in advance for everything, so all of our supplies really have remained fairly stable,” Skarzenski said. “You may see large changes come next year.”
For now, he said more customers are looking to grow their own tomatoes as a way to avoid fluctuating grocery prices.
“What I’ll say as far as dollar cost compared to the grocery store is it doesn’t have near as much fluctuation,” he said. “Overall input costs are very minimal compared to taking arms of groceries out.”
Gardeners can also get more value from a single plant than many realize. Indeterminate tomato varieties, Skarzenski said, continue producing fruit throughout the season.
Still, he cautions that beginners may face some upfront costs — especially if they’re starting with containers and potting soil, which have seen their own price increases.
“Container growing in potting soil is where you start adding the price,” he said. “Some of the soils are starting to creep up.”
Even so, many gardeners say the long-term payoff — both financial and personal — makes the effort worthwhile.
“You put in a small plant early in the season,” Skarzenski said, “and then you can tell your friends, ‘I produced this in my own garden.’”
Experts say gardening won’t eliminate grocery bills, but it can help offset rising produce costs. And with tariff impacts still uncertain, next year could bring even bigger price changes.