Multiple Tuscaloosa Restaurants Drop Tomatoes For Now Amid Sky-High Prices
Multiple Tuscaloosa restaurants are dropping tomato-based options from their menus as prices for the versatile fruit skyrocket.
According to figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, tomato prices rose 22.6 percent year-over-year from March 2025 to March 2026 - and that doesn't account for additional increases in the last two months.
That sharp increase in costs is cutting into the already razor-thin profit margins of some restaurants in the Tuscaloosa area.
A few days ago, Taco Casa posted written notices advising customers that until there's price relief, they won't be selling tomatoes at their restaurants.
On Thursday, another restaurant made the same call - downtown's Urban Bar & Kitchen said their beloved fried green tomatoes are nixed until further notice.
Many factors are affecting prices, including tariffs on Mexican tomatoes, the Iran conflict driving up energy and fertilizer costs, and some late freezes impacting domestic supplies.
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