Trump's tariff plans threaten foreign crops that U.S. farmers struggle to grow
Many of the specialty foods Americans enjoy are almost entirely imported from abroad. The few growers who cultivate these items domestically say it’s a tough business.
Tibor Fischl has been growing goji berries in Sonoma, California, and Washington’s Yakima Valley since 2013.
“I don’t recommend it,” he said.
The nutrient-packed East Asian fruit, which is typically sold dried and blitzed into smoothies or sprinkled over granola, is among the many specialty foods that consumers in the United States rely on foreign growers to provide.
A handful of American farmers grow small volumes of those ingredients domestically, from truffles and lavender to wasabi. Many say it’s tough going, and warn there’s no way they could satisfy U.S. demand at reasonable prices if shifting trade policies were to make their products’ foreign-grown counterparts pricier or harder to get.
Many specialty crops mature slowly and require hefty upfront investments, which is why they tend to be heritage industries in their home countries — often places where stronger local demand, lower labor and shipping costs, and deep cultivation expertise make these items relatively more affordable.
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