Food Supply & Tariffs

We don’t know what the future holds, especially with the possibility of tariff wars looming on the horizon. That’s why every week, our food storage experts spend hours researching the smartest products to stock up on—then discount them to help you save money before tariffs take effect. Check back often and stock up while you can.

Dairy

The United States imported approximately $4.9 billion worth of dairy products in 2023. While many states rely on domestic production, the recent mutation of bird flu affecting dairy cows could significantly impact milk production, raising concerns about cost and supply. Now is a smart time to stock up on long-lasting dairy products!

Vegetables

A large portion of our vegetables come from Mexico, especially during the colder northern winter months. In 2022, roughly 35% of all vegetables consumed in the United States were imported, and that number continues to grow to meet demand. Mexico supplied 69% of our imported fresh vegetables in 2023, with Canada providing 20%.

Fruits

If you thought we imported a lot of vegetables, consider this—59% of the fresh fruit consumed in the U.S. in 2023 came from other countries, up from 50% the year before. This increase is due to rising demand and declines in local fruit farms. Mexico alone accounted for 51% of our fresh fruit imports by value.

Meat

The United States imports about 10–12% of its beef supply and a significant amount of poultry. With the current bird flu continuing to impact domestic poultry and concerns rising over its potential effects on cattle due to new mutations, we may see increased reliance on imports—imports that could be affected by tariffs.

Coffee

The United States is the second-largest importer of coffee in the world and relies almost entirely on foreign sources. Domestic coffee production is limited to small-scale operations in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Additionally, coffee consumption has increased significantly, leading to higher demand and lower supply. With Brazil and Colombia being the largest suppliers, tariffs could greatly affect our coffee supply.

Beans & Legumes

The U.S. imports approximately 13% of its beans from neighboring countries. While this may not seem like a large percentage, struggling domestic farms and rising demand could put pressure on supply. Canada is a major supplier of lentils, particularly from Saskatchewan and Alberta, while Mexico and Canada help meet fluctuations in demand to ensure a stable supply.

Grains

In 2023-24, the U.S. imported approximately 0.7 million metric tons of wheat and 1.5 million metric tons of rice. That accounts for 12.6% of U.S. wheat consumption and a staggering 30.6% of rice consumption. Surprisingly, the U.S. also imports a small amount of corn. With domestic farmers battling grain diseases worsened by unfavorable weather, stocking up on long-lasting grains is a wise move.