After delays, U.S. tariffs of 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods are set to go into effect on April 2. Chinese imports have faced a 10% tariff since they were announced in February, but that tariff recently went up to 20%. It’s possible that the U.S. will expand these import taxes to other countries as well—President Donald Trump recently suggested a 200% tariff on alcoholic products from the European Union. 

The tariffs are likely to have an impact on your food budget. According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), about 60% of fruit and 40% of vegetables that Americans consume come from other countries, especially neighbors like Mexico and Canada. That could mean big changes for grocery shoppers. 

While it won’t be possible to totally avoid tariff-related price increases, we’ve rounded up five of the strategies we’ll be using to try and keep our grocery costs from skyrocketing, from shopping local to changing the way you shop for certain staples.

Head to the Farmers Market

Mexico alone supplies 51% of fruits and 69% veggies imported to the U.S., which means the produce section at your grocery store is likely to see fluctuations in price. Certain fruits and vegetables will be more affected than others. For example, those creamy avocados you pick up for a batch of guacamole? According to the USDA, 89% of avocados imported into the United States come from Mexico.

And while there are avocados grown in the United States—you may have noticed some from California at your local supermarket—it’s a much smaller number of avocados than are grown elsewhere. From 2000 to 2020, the U.S. produced an average of 500 million pounds of avocados each year, but in 2021, U.S. avocado imports hit a record high of 2.675 billion pounds. That means it’s time to get flexible when it comes to produce.

When you’re planning meals for the week, think about what you could make with what is in season in your area. Hit the farmers market every week to scope out what kind of local produce you can snag from growers nearby. You may end up relying more on seasonal eating, but that kind of flexibility sometimes results in utter deliciousness. Plus, you never know what fun selections of fruit and veggies you’ll find when you start supporting local farmers.

Expand Your Syrup Palate

Pancakes without a drizzle of maple syrup often just seem naked, and you might not want to opt for pancake syrup, which tends to be corn syrup-based. But maple syrup may see incoming price increases as well. Canada produces 71% of the maple syrup on the planet and the U.S. is its largest importer.

Fortunately, rich and irresistible maple syrup is grown in the U.S., too. The USDA reports that the United States produced about 5.8 million gallons of maple syrup in 2024—but the U.S. also imported more than 6 million gallons in 2019. While you might be able to get a pretty good deal on American maple syrup—especially if you live in an area where it’s produced—it could also be a good idea to expand your palate.

Try local honey in your oatmeal or on your pancakes instead of your usual maple. You might also test out options like cane syrup or date syrup from the store, or even take on a fun project and make some fruit-based syrup yourself for a weekend pancake breakfast.

Shop the Baking Aisle

In 2023, Americans spent $4.7 billion on biscuits and wafers from Canada. That figure includes sweet treats like certain maple cream sandwich cookies, Leclerc butter cookies and a variety of other convenient pantry treats. If you’re concerned that one of your favorite cookies or wafers could get hit with a tariff, check the packaging to see where the food was manufactured. If it comes from Canada or Mexico, it’s likely to become more expensive.

You could always peruse the cookie and snack aisle for a new favorite, but an even better idea would be making your own treats. You might just fall in love with a recipe like our Flourless Chocolate Cookies or Peanut Butter-Banana Chocolate Bark, especially since those treats are approachable even for novice bakers.

Tweak Your Wine Habit

While tariffs against the European Union are not official, they create another excuse to research domestic (and even local) options for your favorite beverages. We all know California wines, but have you tried a glass from New York’s Finger Lakes region? You may be surprised by all of the places around the country that produce worthwhile wine. 

You can also look abroad to anywhere from Australia and New Zealand to South Africa for bottles that will create a perfect pairing with your meal.

Check Out the Bulk Bins

Then there are the sneaky tariffs you may have forgotten about—ones that will affect the packaging much of our food is sold in. In February, an executive order raised the tariff on aluminum imports to 25%, which means canned goods are likely to go up in price. Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, released a statement explaining the issue.

“Since the 2018 tariffs, America’s tin mill steel producers shut down nine tin mill lines,” Budway said in the statement. “Today, only three domestic production lines remain open in the United States, meaning American steel producers cannot meet U.S. demand even with the highest tinplate steel costs in the world.”

The Observatory of Economic Complexity estimates that China, Mexico and Canada together supply more than half of the plastic the U.S. imported in 2023, so plastic food packaging may become more expensive as well. That’s why heading to the bulk bins section of your grocery store could be a great idea. 

If you’ve only passed by this handy section in the past, you’ll be shocked at what all you can get. It’s not all dried beans and pasta—though those deals are pretty appealing, too. The bulk aisle is a great place to stock up on spices and even treats like nuts and dried fruit. Selection can vary from store to store, so head to a supermarket that offers bulk bins near you and find out what goodies you can grab. Just remember to bring along your favorite container from home!

The Bottom Line 

It’s always been a good idea to shop locally, but now it can help your wallet as well as your community and your palate. While it may be an adjustment to rely on seasonality, visits with local farmers and grocers may also lead to some pretty delicious eats—these pantry dinners and casseroles are some of our favorites for spring and summer. You’ll experience some price fluctuations no matter what, but bulk bin shopping, baking at home and flexibility at the grocery store can help your budget weather the storm.