SOUTH TUCSON, Arizona — Tomatoes are hitting their highest price point in eight years, and it’s hitting local restaurants hard.
At Comida del Barrio in South Tucson, the surge is stretching the budget for a staple ingredient found in nearly every Mexican dish — from salsa and picadillo to bistec ranchero.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says tomatoes are at their highest price since 2016. One pound now averages about $2.30, roughly 50 cents more than this time last year.
A 25% tariff on Mexico is fueling the increase. Truckers in Sinaloa — where 22% of tomatoes in the U.S. come from — say the fruit didn’t grow in bunches like they hoped, which could also be adding to the price…