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Ketchup, pasta sauce face higher prices amid tomato shortage

California growers are facing a tomato shortage amid extreme heat and dry conditions, which could affect the nation's supply of tomato-based products.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — California is the nation's largest supplier of tomatoes used in products like ketchup and pasta sauce, according to the California Tomato Growers Association, but a drought in the area is threatening their supply.

"For the last three years, we have far below normal rainfall and snowpack that has reduced growers water allocations throughout the state," Association President Mike Montna said. "This has resulted in growers farming fewer acres due to a lack of available water."

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The impact could mean higher prices for South Carolinians, as tomato-based product providers seek alternative sources to meet demand.

For LaBrasca's Pizza on Fort Jackson Boulevard, the drought means another challenge to consider, after already facing higher costs for things like meat and cheese.

"It's more a family, more so than a business," part-owner Milly Wilson said of the over 50-year old business. "I grew up on LaBrasca's, but I never really understood what it meant to other people until the fear of us having to close down."

Labor shortages, supply chain issues and inflation have impacted their operating costs, but community support has helped them through, she says.

So far, their pizza and pasta sauce supply has not been impacted by the drought.

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"Hopefully, that's not going to be a big deal, because if it is, obviously, that is kind of the base of all the pizzas... So, it's a big deal," part-owner Brett Wilson, Milly's husband, said.

While South Carolina still has tomatoes on shelves, Adam Kantrovich, an agribusiness specialist with Clemson University, said cost is his biggest concern as manufacturers look elsewhere to meet demand.

"I'm not overly concerned about the actual availability as much as is there going to be a change in the cost, because even if they have to go outside of the U.S. or even to another region within the U.S. to access those particular products," Kantrovich said. "...They may need to simply pass that on to the consumer."

Customers like Orekia Dantzler said they'll pay the price to support businesses like LaBrasca's that have become a part of her routine.

"I still got to get my pizza," Dantzler said.

Kantrovich says considering growing products like tomatoes at home can help reduce costs.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, South Carolina is ranked eighth as the largest producer of tomatoes for fresh market and processing in the United States during the period of 2018-2020. 

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