MENDOCINO CO., 4/20/25 – The Trump tariffs have been a hot-button topic among Mendocino County small business owners in recent weeks. The ups and downs of the tariffs have made it hard for businesses to plan, but one thing we do know – if you import anything from outside the country, you are going to be paying more for it.
That tasty guacamole you get from your favorite Mexican restaurant? It likely consists of avocados, chili peppers and tomatoes from Mexico and onions from China.
“The price increase of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, eggs, avocados, just to name a few things have gotten and are crazy scary expensive for us,” shared one restaurant owner in the Mendocino County Foodies group on Facebook. Business is definitely down from last year, and I don’t think we will have as busy of a summer if people don’t travel from other countries to vacation here, so yeah, definitely scary times ahead,” she posted.
And those eco-friendly, compostable take-out cups and packages? Those are made in China, including the Rohnert Park-based World Centric brand. According to a sales representative for the product, the price of World Centric products increased 25% effective April 1.
The Trump administration placed baseline tariffs of 145% on all Chinese imports early this month.
The owner of a cooking store in Ukiah shared that her vendors have increased pricing already and cited tariffs as the reason – and more increases could take place. “We’ve always tried to focus on U.S. [made] goods, but their cost has also increased exponentially over the last few months,” she wrote. “I suspect due to the supply chain and anticipation of what transpired over the last couple weeks.”
Coffee enthusiasts are already being impacted by the tariffs, according to one Fort Bragg entrepreneur who imports coffee. They received word from a distributor last week that a one-pound bag of coffee is increasing by $1.20. That’s about a four-cent increase per cup even before retail mark-up.
Coffee prices hit an all-time high in March at $7.38 a pound. That’s an 84% increase from January 2020. Given that 99% of the coffee we drink is imported, expect more records to be broken.
One local caterer reported that wedding clients are already reducing their commitments. She shared that the current economic situation “smells like 2020,” referring to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy.
“I am not optimistic about this whole situation. The wedding and event industry is predicated on disposable income,” she wrote. “That is evaporating for our clients at the same time costs are spiking.”
In contrast, a local rancher in Covelo who raises grass-fed, grain-finished lamb, goat and pork shares that the tariffs “shouldn’t affect my business at all, and besides I firmly believe that when everything settles down [the tariffs] won’t be an issue.”
But no matter what your political leaning, there is no doubt that many of the local restaurants and food businesses we cherish will be impacted by the tariffs.
And for consumers, that means it all comes down to supporting local businesses.
If you have the means, consider dining out at least once a week at a local restaurant. Tip generously, too. A downturn in the economy means working-class folks, the servers and back-of-house staff, will be hit hard and even a few extra bucks in the tip jar can make a difference.
Consider joining a local community-supported agriculture program (CSA) like the Mendo Lake Food Hub. The weekly deliveries of fresh produce you’ll receive can benefit your body, mind and the farmers that grow the produce.
Visit a local farmers’ market and pick up groceries from locally owned markets, co-ops, fishermen, fishmongers and butcher shops. Don’t forget locally owned shops and boutiques for cookware and foodie gifts.
Be sure to share dining, shopping and eating experiences on social media. Heck, it might even warrant a Yelp or Google review. Your kind words can make a huge difference for a small business.