All articles tagged with #tomatoes
Tomato prices in the U.S. have jumped about 40% year over year, reaching record highs due to a combination of tariffs on Mexican tomatoes, weather-driven production shortfalls in Mexico and Florida, and higher transport costs from global tensions, underscoring how policy and logistics ripple into consumer prices.
Tomato prices have jumped about 40% over the past year, making them a public-facing sign of America’s affordability squeeze as tariffs, policy shifts, and global factors push up groceries; the spike affects restaurants and shoppers, with economists expecting some relief later as domestic harvests increase.
Rising grocery costs tied to inflation are making tomatoes a visible symbol of the American affordability squeeze, as shoppers encounter higher prices at supermarkets.
Weather-driven crop shortfalls in Florida and Mexico, plus high diesel and fertilizer costs and a 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes, have tightened US supply and driven prices higher. March tomato prices rose 15.3% month-over-month and are 22.6% higher than a year ago, while store shelves show tomatoes around $2.25 per pound (the highest in eight years). Farmers warn relief hinges on new crops coming in the next two weeks, with some growers shifting to greenhouse production in Canada to hedge against weather; costs for freight and packaging, fueled by high oil prices, are also a factor.
Consuming specific foods like broccoli, blueberries, and tomatoes daily can help reduce the risk of cancer due to their protective compounds, such as sulforaphane, antioxidants, and lycopene, respectively, when incorporated into a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
A Swiss research team used precise gene editing to correct a mutation in the SSP2 gene of domesticated tomatoes, resulting in earlier fruiting, more compact growth, and potential for improved crop scheduling, highlighting how fixing deleterious mutations can enhance crop traits.
La Tomatina, held annually in Buñol, Spain, is the world's largest food fight where thousands of participants throw overripe tomatoes at each other, transforming the streets into a sea of red for an hour, a tradition dating back to the 1940s and now an internationally renowned event.
A recent study reveals that modern potatoes evolved from a hybridization event between wild tomatoes and potato-like plants in South America around nine million years ago, highlighting the significant role of ancient hybridization in evolution and opening new avenues for potato breeding.
Scientists have discovered that modern potatoes evolved from an ancient tomato ancestor around 9 million years ago, with key genetic contributions from both species enabling the development of tubers in potatoes.
Research reveals that potatoes originated from a hybridization event between wild tomato plants and potato-like species around 8-9 million years ago, which led to the development of tubers and contributed to the diversity of potato species today.
A recent study reveals that modern potatoes are descended from tomatoes, with genetic analysis showing potatoes likely emerged about 9 million years ago as a hybrid of tomatoes and a potato-like species, etuberosum, challenging previous beliefs about their origins.
The US has imposed a 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes after withdrawing from a trade agreement, citing unfair pricing practices, which is expected to raise prices and impact trade between the two countries. Mexico opposes the move, emphasizing the importance of Mexican tomatoes and seeking negotiations, while the US aims to protect its domestic growers amid broader trade tensions.
The US has imposed a 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes after withdrawing from a 2019 trade agreement, citing unfair trade practices, which is expected to increase prices for tomato products in the US and impact Mexican producers who hope to negotiate a new deal.
Scientists have discovered that wild tomatoes in the Galápagos Islands are evolving backwards, regaining ancient traits lost millions of years ago, challenging traditional views of evolution and opening new avenues for genetic research and crop improvement.
Researchers have documented a rare example of reverse evolution in wild tomatoes on the Galapagos Islands, where some plants have reverted to ancestral chemical traits, suggesting environmental pressures can drive species back along their evolutionary path, with potential implications for genetic engineering and agriculture.