Tomatoes emerge as Trump’s version of Biden-era eggs with 40% price jump

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.

Tomatoes emerge as Trump’s version of Biden-era eggs with 40% price jump. 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.” The last time a single grocery item took on outsized political meaning, it was eggs. Prices spiked in 2022 and 2023 after avian flu wiped out tens of millions of hens, sen...