5 Items To Add To Your Weekly Grocery List If You Want To Avoid Tariffs
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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When you start thinking about your weekly grocery list and tariffs, you may begin with the thought that avoiding the impact usually means buying locally grown, produced or sourced items. According to Sarah Place, president and CEO of Place Trade Financial, many shoppers have started adopting this mindset since tariffs affect imported goods.
If you’re looking for a few items to add to your weekly grocery list that may be less impacted by tariffs, here are some ideas from financial and economic experts.
Farmers Market Vegetables
Andrew Lokenauth, a money expert from Be Fluent in Finance, said his family has seen significant savings by switching to locally grown vegetables from farmers’ markets instead of imported options. Lokenauth said root veggies like potatoes, carrots and onions from American farms have stayed particularly stable price-wise.
Local Eggs
While researching inflation patterns, Lokenauth said he noticed that eggs from local farms maintained steadier pricing than mass-produced options. According to Lokenauth, his own grocery store tracking showed about 12% savings by switching to a local egg supplier.
Chicken
You may be looking for new protein options amid some rising grocery prices. Lokenauth said he’s found domestic chicken to be the most tariff-resistant protein. Based on his data analysis, chicken prices only increased 3% during major trade disputes, while imported seafood jumped nearly 20%. Lokenauth also noted that U.S.-raised pork tends to stay relatively stable, especially if you stick with producers based in the Midwest.
Shelf-Stable Proteins
You may also be able to lower the tariff impact on your grocery bills by considering shelf-stable proteins. Place said canned tuna, chicken and turkey from American brands are good choices. Peanut butter may be another solid buy since the U.S. is a large producer of peanuts. You could also try powdered eggs and shelf-stable liquid eggs.
Store Brands
It generally seems like shoppers have become more comfortable in the past few years with skipping name brands and opting instead for lower-priced store brands. This may also be a strategy to help protect your grocery list from deep impacts by tariffs.
“Store brands from Kroger and Costco particularly stand out — their supply chains are predominantly U.S.-based,” Lokenauth said. “My spending data shows roughly 30% savings by switching from imported name brands.”
In addition, Lokenauth said another strategy to try is creating separate lists for tariff-sensitive and tariff-resistant items. You can more effectively track price changes with this method.
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