How Southern California restaurants and farmers are coping with rising produce costs: "We don't want to raise prices"

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May 21, 2026 / 7:58 AM PDT

/ CBS LA

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Produce prices are climbing sharply across Southern California, with tomatoes leading the surge as farmers, restaurants and consumers struggle to absorb rising costs tied to tariffs, fuel and transportation expenses.The price of fresh fruits and vegetables is expected to increase nearly 5% this year, according to industry estimates. Tomatoes alone are up 23% compared with a year ago, while grocery prices overall have risen 2.9% year over year.At the Santa Monica Farmers Market, Alex Frecker of Frecker Farms in Carpinteria, said the cost of doing business has become increasingly difficult to manage."Prices are definitely going up," Frecker said. "Wholesale prices are up maybe 25% from what they were last year."Frecker said many of the farm's materials come from China and are now subject to tariffs, adding that boxes and baskets are more expensive.Fuel prices have also added pressure. Frecker said his farm operates seven vehicles and travels regularly between Los Angeles and the Central Coast to attend 14 farmers' markets each week."We're driving back and forth from LA many times a week and most of our trucks are all diesel," Frecker said. "Diesel prices are the highest they've been since I've been driving."