4 Foods to Stock Up On Before Tariffs Take Effect

Food prices have been on an increasingly upward trend for the past several years thanks to COVID-19 and inflation. And while President Donald Trump’s recently announced tariffs against Canada and Mexico are on hold for now, the possibility of tariffs still lingers.

If Canada and Mexico don’t reach agreements with the U.S. in a month, those 25% tariffs could still go into effect—and since those countries are the top two suppliers of food and beverages to the United States, your grocery budget is likely to be affected. With more food price hikes possibly on the horizon, here’s what to know—and what to consider stocking up on.

- Advertisement -

How Will Tariffs Work?

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, fresh vegetables traded within the North American market move widely tariff-free—a mutually beneficial system that saw a rise in the import volume of foods such as bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, and snap beans. If tariffs do go into effect, shoppers can expect to see prices change fairly quickly. 

In the aftermath of tariffs becoming official, there may also be some supply chain disruptions. Though demand for groceries will stay the same, supply may decrease, since importers of record are responsible for paying the newly imposed fees. 

This scenario is more likely to occur among smaller importers, while larger corporations will almost certainly pay the fees. Smaller importers will have to pay the fees on any goods they do decide to bring in, but they may scale back their exports to avoid the added cost. Don’t expect companies large or small to absorb the losses—at least not fully—instead, they’ll increase the prices of goods, which means consumers will ultimately pay the price at checkout.

What Foods Will Go Up In Price?

In the weeks after tariffs against Canada go into effect, shoppers can expect to see a rise in prices of foods with high U.S. import volumes, including beef and seafood, cereals, legumes and maple products.

If Mexico and the U.S. don’t come to an agreement after the month-long tariff pause, Americans will most certainly see increases in the price of a long list of fruits and vegetables, including avocados, tomatoes, peppers, berries, cucumbers and greens, as well as for sugar, orange juice products and some cuts of meat.

Should I Start Stocking Up?

After this weekend’s news, Americans are already headed to stores to stock up. But it’s important to reflect on COVID-era experiences before stockpiling foods that may ultimately go to waste—like those 50-pound bags of flour. Tariffs or not, buying foods that you regularly consume in bulk is a smart cost-saving plan when done correctly.

What Foods To Buy And How To Store Them

Meat and Seafood

More than half of the fresh red meat imported to the U.S. comes from Canada, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Canada is also a significant supplier of poultry and prepared meats, which includes processed meats like smoked sausage or cured ham. Plus, Canada is the largest exporter of seafood to the U.S., particularly when it comes to shellfish.

If you choose to stock up on your favorite cuts, store meat and seafood products in air-tight food storage bags in the back of the freezer for three to six months. You may be able to store even longer if you pick up some vacuum-sealed products—and certain cuts of meat last longer in the freezer than others. This guide to freezing chicken can help you out, and we wouldn’t recommend freezing whole cuts of beef for more than 12 months. And by the way, the USDA says you can safely freeze ground beef indefinitely, if you like—just know the quality may diminish after the six-month mark.

Nuts

Vietnam is actually the largest exporter of nuts to the U.S., but with Mexico at No. 2, price hikes aren’t out of the question. Plus, Mexico is actually the top exporter of ground nuts to the U.S., which could be tough news for fans of some gluten-free flour replacements. You can store nuts in unopened product bags or in air-tight freezer bags in the freezer for up to a year.

Canned Legumes

As of 2022, the U.S. ranked No. 1 as an importer of legumes, and Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Canada are the country’s largest suppliers, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

Keep canned legumes, like beans and lentils, in a cool, dry place such as the pantry for up to two to five years. Note that although canned foods typically last even longer, taste and texture can be affected after a few years.

Fruits and Vegetables

Though Canada takes the top spot in the meat department, Mexico has long been a major part of fruit imported to the U.S. The country is far and away the largest exporter of fruit to the States, and in 2023, Americans imported more than $11 billion of fruit from Mexico. Peru, the second largest exporter, clocked in at just $2 billion.

And both Canada and Mexico play a large role in the veggie selection in the United States. With a combined $14 billion dollars in vegetables exported in 2023, they are the top two exporters of vegetables to the U.S.—and that includes some frozen or preserved veggies.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are the best bet for buying in bulk, as they are flash-frozen to maximize freshness and preserve nutrients. Store them in the original packaging and reseal them after each use or transfer them into freezer food storage bags with clearly marked expiration dates. Though we have guides on how to freeze some produce—like corn, celery and potatoes—keep in mind that some produce does not store well in the freezer, including most vegetables that you would use for salads.