It could be argued that the tomato (jitomate) and the onion (cebolla) are the most used vegetables in the Mexican kitchen (okay, botanically tomatoes are fruits!).
The range of dishes in which these two staples are vital ingredients is almost incalculable. Just browse through a Mexican cookbook, and you’ll get the idea.
Which is why a family’s pocketbook can be seriously affected when the price of tomatoes and onions suddenly spikes—as is the case at the moment.
Both jitomate and cebolla are at their highest levels in 26 years, according to the Ministry of Economy, contributing to the rebound in general inflation, which rose to 4.9 percent annually in the first two weeks of 2024.
The tomato has seen the biggest price hike, 25 percent since the end of 2023, says the National Statistics Institute (Inegi), selling for around 45 pesos a kilo in the Mexico City and Guadalajara wholesale markets. At supermarkets and convenience stores, the cost is higher: tomatoes and onions go for 50 to 60 pesos and up.
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