When are tomatoes cheapest?

The best time to buy tomatoes, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

Worth timing

Buy tomatoes in August if you can.

Over 2006–2025, tomatoes in August ran a typical 7% below the year’s trend price, and August was below it in 15 of 17 years. January is the dearest month (8% above): a 15-point swing.

Field tomatoes ripen in summer across most of the country. In winter more come from Florida and imports.

Tomatoes: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−20%−15%−10%−5%trend+5%+10%+15%+20%Jan+8%January: typically 8% above trend (half of years between +4% and +15%; 18 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −1.9% and +6%; 18 years)MarMarch: typically 0.6% below trend (half of years between −1.9% and +2.4%; 18 years)AprApril: typically 1% below trend (half of years between −4% and −0.7%; 16 years)MayMay: typically 6% below trend (half of years between −8% and −1.8%; 17 years)JunJune: typically 7% below trend (half of years between −7% and −0.9%; 17 years)JulJuly: typically 4% below trend (half of years between −8% and −1.1%; 17 years)Aug−7%August: typically 7% below trend (half of years between −11% and −2.4%; 17 years)SepSeptember: typically 6% below trend (half of years between −8% and −3%; 16 years)OctOctober: typically 4% below trend (half of years between −5% and +1.3%; 16 years)NovNovember: typically 4% above trend (half of years between −0.4% and +6%; 17 years)DecDecember: typically 6% above trend (half of years between +2.1% and +11%; 17 years)
cheaper than the year’s trend dearer middle half of years
See the numbers as a table
MonthTypical vs trendMiddle half of yearsYears
January+8%+4% to +15%18
February+0.9%−1.9% to +6%18
March−0.6%−1.9% to +2.4%18
April−1%−4% to −0.7%16
May−6%−8% to −1.8%17
June−7%−7% to −0.9%17
July−4%−8% to −1.1%17
August−7%−11% to −2.4%17
September−6%−8% to −3%16
October−4%−5% to +1.3%16
November+4%−0.4% to +6%17
December+6%+2.1% to +11%17

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of tomatoes (per pound) was $2.08 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical August price is about $2.01 and the typical January price about $2.32.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month tomatoes were cheapest relative to that year’s trend. August was the single cheapest month in 3 of 15 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20242024: cheapest in June20232023: cheapest in May20222022: cheapest in July20212021: cheapest in March20182018: cheapest in May20172017: cheapest in October20162016: cheapest in July20152015: cheapest in August20122012: cheapest in May20112011: cheapest in August20102010: cheapest in August20092009: cheapest in September20082008: cheapest in May20072007: cheapest in September20062006: cheapest in JuneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024June
2023May
2022July
2021March
2018May
2017October
2016July
2015August
2012May
2011August
2010August
2009September
2008May
2007September
2006June

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in August: what’s cheap in August. Vegetables: iceberg lettuce (Aug), romaine (Jun), bell peppers (Sep), broccoli (May), potatoes (Dec). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month are tomatoes cheapest?

August. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of tomatoes in August was typically 7% below that year's trend, and below it in 15 of 17 years. January is the dearest month (8% above).

What is the most expensive month for tomatoes?

January, typically 8% above the year's trend price.

How much are tomatoes right now?

The U.S. average was $2.08 a pound in October 2026 (BLS Average Price Data).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), the shelf prices BLS collects every month for the Consumer Price Index, through October 2026. Seasonal pattern and every number on this page computed by Online List Maker; how.

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