What's the Tariff on Fresh Fruit (Berries)?
Fresh berries imported from Mexico and Chile.
Current Tariff Rate
25%
Pre-2025 Rate
0%
Rate Increase
+25pp
Price Impact
+25%
+$1.25
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$4.99
1 pint blueberries
After Tariffs
$6.24
1 pint blueberries
That's $1.25 more per unit — a 25% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
The berry tariff story reveals America's seasonal dependency on Southern Hemisphere agriculture. From November through March, over 80% of fresh berries consumed in the US come from Mexico and Chile, making winter berry availability almost entirely import-dependent. The 25% IEEPA tariff hits during peak import season, when domestic production is near zero. Mexico's Baja California region alone supplies 60% of US winter blueberries and strawberries through sophisticated cold-chain logistics that move berries from field to US grocery shelves in under 48 hours. The tariff creates a cruel seasonal tax — Americans pay more precisely when they have no domestic alternative. Berry growers in California and Oregon benefit during summer months, but cannot fill the winter gap. Retailers face the impossible choice of absorbing costs or watching berry sales collapse, as demand elasticity for fresh berries is surprisingly high.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
Mexico
Made in USA
45%
Import Volume
.2B
Alternatives
Chile (winter), Peru (growing)
📅 Tariff Timeline
2020
USMCA maintains zero tariff on Mexican berries
0%2024
Record berry imports — .2B from Mexico alone
0%2025-Feb
IEEPA tariffs imposed on Mexico
25%2025-Mar
Berry industry lobbies for exemption, denied
25%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
95M
Annual Cost Per Household
8
💡 Did You Know?
- •Mexico supplies 60% of all fresh berries consumed in the US during winter months
- •A single blueberry clamshell travels an average of 1,800 miles from Mexican farms to US stores in under 48 hours
- •US berry consumption has tripled since 2005, far outpacing domestic production capacity
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 0810.10
- Current Rate
- 25%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 0%
- Tariff Type
- IEEPA
Legal Authority
IEEPA Executive Order (April 2, 2025)
Effective: April 2, 2025
"Liberation Day" — broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
The tariff on Fresh Fruit (Berries) is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 25% tariff on Fresh Fruit (Berries) is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 25% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $4.99 → $6.24
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