How this vegetable became the latest symbol of America’s affordability squeeze

According to the most recent Consumer Price Index, tomato prices have skyrocketed nearly 40%.

Tomatoes await customers on the shelves of a supermarket in New York on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. [Photo: Matt Sedensky/AP Photo]

Tomatoes, ubiquitous in everything from fast-food burgers to haute cuisine, are taking on a new role beyond the plate: A nagging reminder of rising costs.Prices for those red orbs have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour.“The tomato has become a symbol of something much deeper,” says Isaac Bernal Carbajo, a New York City chef who lamented life’s “simplest pleasures” falling victim to price increases. “Something as basic as buying fresh vegetables is starting to become a serious financial decision for many families.”Tomato prices are up about 40% over a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index, dwarfing increases for other groceries, including coffee (up 18.5%), beef roasts (up 17.8%) and........

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