Tomato Fight With Mexico Poised to Boost Prices Nearly 10% (1)

Consumers may soon be paying more for fresh tomatoes as a decades-long deal with Mexico expires in less than a week, absent a last-minute deal or extension.

US tomato importer NatureSweet Ltd. told its customers last week that it would have to raise prices nearly 10% if the agreement ends, Chief Executive Officer Rodolfo Spielmann said in an interview Tuesday.

“There’s no scenario where I can absorb those tariffs,” Spielmann said. “The margins are not high enough.”

That could drive up costs across the country, given NatureSweet’s position as the largest distributor of tomatoes in the US. Its bestsellers, including ...