Currently, tomatoes are pricey regardless of how you look at it.

In May, tomato prices surged by 45.2%, as reported in the latest inflation data released by Statistics Canada on Monday. This increase is the largest seen in any grocery item measured in the Consumer Price Index since May of the previous year, surpassing the usual suspects like coffee and beef by a significant margin.

Statistics Canada attributes this price hike to supply shortages in Mexico, which resulted from adverse weather conditions and reduced planted acreage following the implementation of U.S. tariffs.

Earlier in April, the U.S. witnessed a 40% increase in tomato prices, with some attributing it to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, crop yields, and other factors.

Comparing the data for May in both countries, it appears that Canada’s tomato inflation has surpassed that of the U.S. In May, U.S. tomato prices fell by 8.5% from April but still rose by 32% year-over-year.

In Canada, the persisting issues such as yield challenges in Mexico, tariffs, and transportation expenses are continuing to impact tomato prices, according to Michael von Massow, a food agriculture professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario.

As summer approaches, demand for tomatoes typically increases as people incorporate them into salads and barbecue dishes, von Massow added.

Factors Affecting Tomato Prices

Tomato prices have been influenced by various factors including weather conditions, tariffs, and geopolitical tensions. Weather events like a freeze in Florida and excessive rain in Mexico have led to reduced tomato yields, affecting the supply chain in Canada.

While U.S. tariffs on Mexican tomatoes did not directly impact Canadian prices, the reduction in plantings by Mexican growers due to the tariffs has further constrained the tomato supply. Additionally, escalating diesel and fertilizer costs, stemming from geopolitical conflicts like the war in Iran, are also contributing to the overall increase in tomato prices.

On average, fresh tomatoes were priced at $6.18 per kilogram in April, marking a $1.49 increase from the previous year, as per Statistics Canada data.

Recent data from grocerypulse.ca for Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab in Halifax showed that as of June 21, the average tomato price in Canadian stores was around $6.61 per kilogram. This indicates a slight 0.3% decrease from the prices observed at the end of May.

Sylvain Charlebois, the lab’s director, mentioned that while there has been a slight drop in prices over the past month, the worst may be over for tomatoes. However, he emphasized that tomatoes remain costly compared to previous years.

Various grocery store websites displayed different prices for tomatoes, with beefsteak tomatoes at $7.71 per kilogram in Toronto, $6.59 per kilogram in St. John’s, and large hothouse tomatoes at $9.90 per kilogram in Calgary.

Strategies to Save on Grocery Bills

Von Massow from Guelph anticipates relief on tomato prices as Canadian field tomato production is set to begin in the coming weeks. In the meantime, he recommends consumers consider seasonal produce options to save on grocery expenses, as prices are expected to decrease in the upcoming months with the rise in Canadian production.

Seasonal items like asparagus, strawberries, and radishes are currently cost-effective alternatives, according to von Massow. He suggests replacing tomatoes with radishes and taking advantage of other seasonal vegetables to mitigate the impact of price hikes.