SAN DIEGO — The U.S. government is imposing a 17% tariff on most tomatoes imported from Mexico and one garden guru is cultivating homegrown solutions amid economic uncertainty.
What You Need To Know
The U.S. government is imposing a 17% tariff on most tomatoes imported from Mexico
Nicolette Palermo of Anomaly Gardens teaches people how to grow their own food
Economic experts say historically, people have turned to growing their own food when there is a shortage, such a Victory Gardens during World War II
Around 70% of tomatoes consumed in the U.S. are imported from Mexico
One of the best feelings in the world for Nicolette Palermo is picking a perfect homegrown tomato.
She is the owner of Anomaly Gardens, and her passion is teaching people how to grow their own food. She helped one homeowner turn a barren slope into a bountiful tomato alley. Many of her clients often refer to her as the Tomato Queen.
“I’ve got them on a good fertilizing schedule now, we are on an insect management schedule; so let’s just say it’s exploded in comparison to what it previously was!” Palermo said.
She is trying to keep them growing amid ever-changing tariff developments. Now, the Trump administration is imposing a 17% tax on most tomatoes grown in Mexico and imported into the United States.
“First, I thought, ‘Of course!’ but I was also like, ‘This is insane. Prices have gone up so much in general,’” Palermo said.
The administration claims that the tariffs were implemented to protect U.S. tomato growers and encourage consumers to purchase from American growers, but Mexican officials argue that the popularity of Mexican tomatoes stems from their high quality and flavor.
Alan Gin is an economics professor at the University of San Diego. He says he wouldn’t be surprised if there is an increase in people trying to grow their own produce.
“When things are in short supply, people will do things to do more of the product,” Gin said. “For example, during World War II, people had Victory Gardens when there was a shortage then of produce, and so they grew their own vegetables. And that could possibly happen in this situation if imports of Mexican tomatoes decline.”
According to the advocacy group Florida Tomato Exchange, around 70% of tomatoes consumed in the U.S. are imported from Mexico.
Gin expects the tomato tax to affect restaurants and supermarkets, with consumers bearing the brunt of any cost increase, which could occur soon, as tomatoes are perishable.
“People are going to be hurt,” he said. “They’ll have to pay more for products, so they may cut back on the consumption of those products, or if they buy the same amount, they have less money to spend then on other products. I think it’s going to be the consumer that’s going to bear the biggest impact of it.”
Now, Palermo is teaching her clients to grow even the Mexican varieties, like tomatillos, traditionally used to make salsa verde. She says San Diego’s climate allows most people in the county to grow tomatoes all year round, with the proper care.
“There’s over 8,000 different varieties of tomatoes that come in all these shapes, all these colors, all these sizes, with so much more flavor than anything that you’ll ever get in the store,” she said. “I would call it the ‘wow factor’ of ‘oh I need this in my life, I want to try this.’”
She says, despite the ups and downs of international trade, she will be here to teach people how to keep their food a little closer to home.
“I hope people are more motivated to take more ownership over what they consume every day,” Palermo said.
Experts say tomato-based pizza sauces and salsas are among the products likely to be most hit.
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