tomato tariffs

A 17% tariff on Mexican tomato imports, combined with poor weather in Florida and Mexico, has driven up the price of salsa ingredients. Houston Public Media reports the cost spike could push restaurants to stop offering complimentary chips and salsa, a long-standing staple of Tex-Mex and Mexican dining in the United States.

New US tariffs on Mexican tomatoes could force Texas restaurants to rethink the complimentary chips and salsa basket, a staple of Tex-Mex dining. Restaurateurs warn that higher produce costs may lead them to charge for the traditionally free table service or cut it altogether, sparking debate among diners and business owners across the state.

Tariffs on Mexican tomatoes introduced under the Trump administration are raising costs for US restaurants, and some owners warn that the complimentary chips and salsa traditionally served to diners may have to go. The levies increase the price of a staple ingredient used in salsa, prompting concern across the hospitality industry about squeezing already thin margins.