This additional swab guacamole on a burrito will probably cost more in the coming days.
The new tariffs of President Trump, who came into force on Tuesday as planned, will probably increase the price for Mexican avocados, beer and tequila – all very popular imports among the Californians.
The state's business owners and consumers expect to address costs and tabs.
“We are excited,” said Luis Navarro, the owner of two Mexican restaurants in Long Beach, named after his late mother Lola. “Immediately we tried to find out what our reaction would be because we will be directly affected. (And) We sell a lot of tequila. “
Lola's restaurant owner Luis Navarro.
(Eric Thayer / For Time)
Alcohol and product sellers asked Navarro to provide orders before Saturday when the 25% tariff for Mexican imports was initially expected.
The tariffs were first proposed at the beginning of February and then delayed Mexican and Canadian imports for 30 days in response to concessions of the two nations for immigration issues. Trump ordered the tariffs to come into force on Tuesday because he is present in the American borders, especially Fentanyl, said the president last week.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to damage the United States, and therefore the planned tariffs, which are supposed to come into force on March 4, will come into force if they come into force as planned.” Trump posted In the truth social, its social media platform, on Thursday.
On Monday, Trump confirmed that the 25% tariffs for Mexican and Canadian goods and an additional 10% tariff for Chinese goods would come into force as planned.
Before the tariffs came into force, the prices rose.
The wholesale costs for a box of 48 large avocados rose from 75 USD to 85 US dollars last week, said Navarro.
He feared that he will have no other choice than increasing the prices for his Enchiladas suizas, which are garnished with a fan of avocado discs as well as his spicy watermelon Margaritas and Mexican mules.
Fill a beer glass from a tap in Lolas Restaurant in Long Beach.
(Eric Thayer / For Time)
“Modelo Especial is number 1 that sells beer in the restaurants. All avocados that we get, all of our dried chillies and our beans, many of this stuff come from Mexico. It is difficult, ”said Navarro and added that these cost increases after pandemic switching, inflation, minimum wage increases and growing insurance costs occur.
Restaurant chains may survive the increased costs than the outfits of Mama-and-Pop.
Scott Boatwright, CEO from Chipotle is currently not planning to increase its guacamole prices, Although he warned that this can change, depending on how long the tariffs remain in force.
“We do not believe that it is fair for the consumer to transfer these costs to the consumer because the pricing will be permanently,” he said on Sunday to “NBC Nightly News”. “This is our intention this year. Let us keep the pricing constant because we do not know whether the tariffs are transparent, whether you will be permanent how sticky you will be in the new administration. “
Mexico exported in 2024 505.9 billion US dollars were to the United States, according to the United States' sales representative. Top exports Visit vehicles, machines and products according to the US Ministry of Trade. In addition to avocados, others Top agricultural imports Visit tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries and peppers, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Brooking institution economists Think Tank predicted that the tariffs reduce gross domestic product, employment, wages and exports of the United States and at the same time increase inflation, especially if the target nations responded with retaliation duties. Canada and China did this on Tuesday, while Mexico will announce its plans on Sunday after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump have a call this week.
Californians are those of the nation Top consumer Mexican avocadosAccording to a report by Texas A&M, professors for the Mexican Hass Avocado Import ASSN import $ 602 million of the HASS varieties in the 2023-24 financial year.
Apart from the creation of guacamole, avocados have become an American culinary food food, since they illustrated creamy texture and healthy fat and fiber content by the omnipresent of Avocado -Toast on Southland Brunch menus.
Per capita consumption According to a report by the University of Florida, £ 1.5 in the United States grew to more than £ 9 in 2023 in 1998. And while the American farmers once grown almost all avocados consumed here, according to the US Agriculture Ministry, nine of ten avocados from Mexico from Mexico are imported.
Guacamole in Lolas Restaurant in Long Beach.
(Eric Thayer / For Time)
“The Americans consume many avocados and practically all avocados that we consume come from Mexico,” said Mark Jones, professor of political science at Rice University in Houston, who focuses on public order in Latin America.
He said that the costs will certainly increase, but the amount depends on how much exporters, importers, wholesalers, retailers and food dealers absorb the additional costs.
“For many Americans, the idea of the tariffs often sounds good to protect the US industries and protect the United States from foreign competition,” said Jones. “Avocados provide a concrete example – if you have tariffs, consumers pay more for those used by them and services.”
Jay Devera, left, Javier Torres and all Mina in Lolas Restaurant in Long Beach.
(Eric Thayer / For Time)
The 33 -year -old owner of the first steps fitness studio, Javier Torres, said that potential price peaks will affect his life for two reasons -his work as a personal trainer, since he asks his customers to eat avocados because of their nutritional content and his Mexican roots.
“This will affect every aspect of my life, in the sense of what we eat and how we eat and whatever we ate,” said Torres, a resident of Long Beach.
Depending on how long they stay on the spot, the tariffs could influence the price of other products later in different places such as berries due to the growing seasons. You will immediately affect Mexican beer and tequila. The latter can only be made from blue agave plants in the state of Jalisco and a handful of other parts of Mexico.
The Americans are the largest consumers of Tequila, and Californians drink the most sound of Statista, which pursues market and consumer data, around 6.3 million 9-liter cases in 2023.
Chris Swonger, President and CEO of the distilled spirits council, said that although they have Trump's efforts to secure the border, to increase fentanyl, increase American production and reduce trade deficits, due to its unique nature, have a disproportionate influence on his industry.
“You cannot make tequila in the United States,” he said.
The United States from Ontario, Canada, enter trucks over the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit.
(Paul Sancya / Associated Press)
The Council worked with its colleagues in Mexico and Canada to try to stop a trade war against alcohol exports, said Swonger. He added that tariffs on tequila and Canadian whiskey would probably lead to mutual tariffs that damage American craft distillers, the number of which has increased exponentially in recent decades, also in California.
“If we get involved with tariffs in a tit-for-tat trade dispute, this will have a significant impact,” said Swonger. “It will affect American consumers – it will affect prices.”
Brad Sims, 52, an engineering consultant, said that he was most concerned about how the tariffs affect the price of tequila. The Republican said he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2024 because of his economic views, even though he rejected the president.
“I don't need it to be my moral compass. I don't need it to be my pastor. I am more concerned about things that influence me personally and selfishly – taxes, inflation, ”said Sims. “And if he can help control them, I will be happy. But at this point it remains to be seen. “
Sims made the comment when he had lunch with Matt Troyka, a democrat who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Despite their different political views, the residents of Long Beach stated that they regarded tariffs as a strain on Trump's strategic effort to force concessions from the country's largest trading partners.
“I think there is a lot of positioning, a lot of attitude,” said Troyka, a 52-year-old marketer for food companies. “He probably knows that it is not a good idea in the long term.”
Although Troyka said he was upset if he sees an additional fee for guacamole, it is at a time when many costs have risen.
“Everything rises,” he said.