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Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Tariffs shake up global spice market
The global spice market is feeling the heat from President Donald Trump's tariff policy. Tariffs as high as 50% are scheduled to take effect Aug. 1 on more than a dozen countries without bilateral trade agreements in place. This comes after the United States imposed 10% base tariffs earlier this year, raising costs for food manufacturers and ingredients suppliers. The U.S. imported more than $2 billion of spices from more than 50 countries in 2024, according to the American Spice Trade Association. Many of these are flavoring ingredients used in "hundreds of billions of pounds of food produced by American food manufacturers," the association said in a March letter to the Trump administration. While the tariff impact on chocolate and coffee has dominated headlines, there are dozens of spices and seasonings set to face higher prices from increasing import duties. Most of these products cannot be commercially grown in the U.S., meaning costs will likely be passed on to consumers without resulting in expanded domestic production. For example, black pepper requires the hot and humid environment found in places such as India, Vietnam and Brazil. Vanilla is primarily grown in Madagascar and requires specific temperature ranges and hand-pollination techniques. Cinnamon is harvested from tree bark native to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. It would not be able to survive U.S. winters. Higher costs threaten to raise prices for consumers at a time when food inflation is causing a pullback in consumer spending. It could also force companies to turn to artificial flavoring alternatives, undermining a push from the Trump administration for the food industry to rely more on natural ingredients. Spice maker McCormick said tariffs could cost the company as much as $90 million a year, though most will be offset through changes in sourcing and other measures. Smaller spice makers, however, are less likely to be able to absorb the cost. The Spice House, a Midwest-based company that sells premium spices, operates an Illinois manufacturing facility that grinds and blends spices. Tariffs have created uncertainty and made it "harder to maintain consistent pricing and availability," CEO Allyson Lewis said in prepared remarks to the Senate Finance Committee in April. "We are very proud of the fact that we manufacture our spices domestically and operate an inhouse manufacturing plant and warehouse that employs over 100 people throughout the year," Lewis said. "However, the global nature of the spice trade is putting our small business at risk, increasing costs that we will not be able to absorb." The ASTA has asked for tariff exemptions, particularly for spices that cannot be commercially grown in the U.S. In its letter to Congress, it noted more than a dozen spices it considered a priority list for tariff relief. They include: VanillaCinnamonClovesCardamonCorianderAniseNutmegGingerSaffronDillBasilSageSaltBlack PepperMint leavesThymeBay leaves Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariffs shake up global spice market
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. The global spice market is feeling the heat from President Donald Trump's tariff policy. Tariffs as high as 50% are scheduled to take effect Aug. 1 on more than a dozen countries without bilateral trade agreements in place. This comes after the United States imposed 10% base tariffs earlier this year, raising costs for food manufacturers and ingredients suppliers. The U.S. imported more than $2 billion of spices from more than 50 countries in 2024, according to the American Spice Trade Association. Many of these are flavoring ingredients used in "hundreds of billions of pounds of food produced by American food manufacturers," the association said in a March letter to the Trump administration. While the tariff impact on chocolate and coffee has dominated headlines, there are dozens of spices and seasonings set to face higher prices from increasing import duties. Most of these products cannot be commercially grown in the U.S., meaning costs will likely be passed on to consumers without resulting in expanded domestic production. For example, black pepper requires the hot and humid environment found in places such as India, Vietnam and Brazil. Vanilla is primarily grown in Madagascar and requires specific temperature ranges and hand-pollination techniques. Cinnamon is harvested from tree bark native to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. It would not be able to survive U.S. winters. Higher costs threaten to raise prices for consumers at a time when food inflation is causing a pullback in consumer spending. It could also force companies to turn to artificial flavoring alternatives, undermining a push from the Trump administration for the food industry to rely more on natural ingredients. Spice maker McCormick said tariffs could cost the company as much as $90 million a year, though most will be offset through changes in sourcing and other measures. Smaller spice makers, however, are less likely to be able to absorb the cost. The Spice House, a Midwest-based company that sells premium spices, operates an Illinois manufacturing facility that grinds and blends spices. Tariffs have created uncertainty and made it 'harder to maintain consistent pricing and availability,' CEO Allyson Lewis said in prepared remarks to the Senate Finance Committee in April. 'We are very proud of the fact that we manufacture our spices domestically and operate an inhouse manufacturing plant and warehouse that employs over 100 people throughout the year,' Lewis said. 'However, the global nature of the spice trade is putting our small business at risk, increasing costs that we will not be able to absorb.' The ASTA has asked for tariff exemptions, particularly for spices that cannot be commercially grown in the U.S. In its letter to Congress, it noted more than a dozen spices it considered a priority list for tariff relief. They include: Vanilla Cinnamon Cloves Cardamon Coriander Anise Nutmeg Ginger Saffron Dill Basil Sage Salt Black Pepper Mint leaves Thyme Bay leaves Recommended Reading Spice giant McCormick warns tariffs could cost $90M a year Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Miami area saw second highest growth in Black businesses, just behind this major city
When family medicine doctor Venis Wilder moved back to her hometown of Plantation from New York City in 2019, she wanted to better understand the connection between diet and health. She learned that large amounts of many seasonings led to health challenges over time. 'In the Black community, we cook with salts and seasonings that are causing more harm than good,' said Wilder, 40. Later that year, she started a spice company, Aunt Alberta's Spice House, from her Plantation home. In doing so, she joined the ranks of nearly 4,000 Black-owned businesses that were created from 2017 to 2022 in South Florida. According to a new study on Black business in America, South Florida saw the second highest increase in the number of new Black businesses during that time, right behind the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Brookings Institution study showed that the South Florida metropolitan area saw the creation of 3,972 new Black-owned businesses, a 77% increase. The rise in South Florida's Black businesses hasn't surprised Miami Dade College business professor Takevess Hatcher. Black business supported communities like Overtown before integration and gentrification changed the area, he said. Citing research from local Black historian and author Marvin Dunn, Hatcher noted that the number of Black businesses in Overtown grew from just 15 in the year 1900 to 146 businesses by 1915. 'A lot of our businesses were started because of need, not because of greed,' he said. 'We needed our own schools because we couldn't go to schools in other areas. We had our own businesses and enclaves for what we would need.' Hatcher is a Black business owner himself, having started his own tax services company in 2012. In his lectures with students, he teaches them about the importance of one day using their business ideas and professional status to support the communities from which they come. The rising number of businesses owned by Black women like Wilder is a part of the nationwide growth trend, according to the Brookings Institution. During the five-year period that was studied, the number of Black-woman-owned businesses increased by nearly 72%. Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce President and CEO G. Eric Knowles said Black women are historically strong businesspeople and appreciated that data supports that idea. 'When it comes to the Black community, Black women are always at the forefront, making their families' lives better,' he said. Knowles believes the Miami area is a good space for Black entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs to connect and share information with one another. 'South Florida is an incubator itself for openness and the camaraderie and coalescing of ideas,' he said. While Wilder's journey parallels that of many local Black business owners over the last few years, her business was years in the making. By combining her medical background with her great-grandmother's penchant for home remedies that were passed down through generations, Wilder was inspired to start her spice company. After doing research, Wilder experimented with five different spice blends and launched Aunt Alberta's Spice House in 2019. Building a business in South Florida has had its challenges, Wilder said. While she learned about programs and grants for local Black entrepreneurs, she felt the dollar amounts are not large enough to support her work on their own. She has also had to learn Spanish to help her better communicate with the area's large Latino community. 'The resources that other communities have, we don't have as much access to,' she said. '[The grants and loans available] are not that great and also high interest. I've wondered how much debt I would have to get into for the business.' Wilder's current focus is on building a path ahead. Within the next five years, she plans on working full-time as an entrepreneur and quitting her job as a doctor. Her plans for that shift have been postponed because like many Black entrepreneurs, access to capital has been a challenge for her. 'I need to bet more on myself,' she said. However, the growth of Aunt Alberta's Spice House has shown her that shift can soon become a reality. Wilder has sold her $10 bottles of spice at more events in 2024 than previous years, leading to more sales and greater brand exposure. Knowles, the Miami-Dade Chamber president, is optimistic when he talks about Black entrepreneurs in South Florida. He took pride in judging a recent pitch competition that featured Black health professionals. 'It's not just Black businesses growing, but I see that [many of our] young people aren't looking for a job; they're looking to create opportunities for themselves,' he said. Given the current volatility of American politics, Knowles said Black residents should support each other's business interests even more than before. 'If there's ever a time for us to wake up and support one another, the time is now,' he said.
Miami Herald
08-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Miami area saw second highest growth in Black businesses, just behind this major city
When family medicine doctor Venis Wilder moved back to her hometown of Plantation from New York City in 2019, she wanted to better understand the connection between diet and health. She learned that large amounts of many seasonings led to health challenges over time. 'In the Black community, we cook with salts and seasonings that are causing more harm than good,' said Wilder, 40. Later that year, she started a spice company, Aunt Alberta's Spice House, from her Plantation home. In doing so, she joined the ranks of nearly 4,000 Black-owned businesses that were created from 2017 to 2022 in South Florida. According to a new study on Black business in America, South Florida saw the second highest increase in the number of new Black businesses during that time, right behind the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Brookings Institution study showed that the South Florida metropolitan area saw the creation of 3,972 new Black-owned businesses, a 77% increase. The rise in South Florida's Black businesses hasn't surprised Miami Dade College business professor Takevess Hatcher. Black business supported communities like Overtown before integration and gentrification changed the area, he said. Citing research from local Black historian and author Marvin Dunn, Hatcher noted that the number of Black businesses in Overtown grew from just 15 in the year 1900 to 146 businesses by 1915. 'A lot of our businesses were started because of need, not because of greed,' he said. 'We needed our own schools because we couldn't go to schools in other areas. We had our own businesses and enclaves for what we would need.' Hatcher is a Black business owner himself, having started his own tax services company in 2012. In his lectures with students, he teaches them about the importance of one day using their business ideas and professional status to support the communities from which they come. The rising number of businesses owned by Black women like Wilder is a part of the nationwide growth trend, according to the Brookings Institution. During the five-year period that was studied, the number of Black-woman-owned businesses increased by nearly 72%. Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce President and CEO G. Eric Knowles said Black women are historically strong businesspeople and appreciated that data supports that idea. 'When it comes to the Black community, Black women are always at the forefront, making their families' lives better,' he said. Knowles believes the Miami area is a good space for Black entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs to connect and share information with one another. 'South Florida is an incubator itself for openness and the camaraderie and coalescing of ideas,' he said. While Wilder's journey parallels that of many local Black business owners over the last few years, her business was years in the making. By combining her medical background with her great-grandmother's penchant for home remedies that were passed down through generations, Wilder was inspired to start her spice company. After doing research, Wilder experimented with five different spice blends and launched Aunt Alberta's Spice House in 2019. Building a business in South Florida has had its challenges, Wilder said. While she learned about programs and grants for local Black entrepreneurs, she felt the dollar amounts are not large enough to support her work on their own. She has also had to learn Spanish to help her better communicate with the area's large Latino community. 'The resources that other communities have, we don't have as much access to,' she said. '[The grants and loans available] are not that great and also high interest. I've wondered how much debt I would have to get into for the business.' Wilder's current focus is on building a path ahead. Within the next five years, she plans on working full-time as an entrepreneur and quitting her job as a doctor. Her plans for that shift have been postponed because like many Black entrepreneurs, access to capital has been a challenge for her. 'I need to bet more on myself,' she said. However, the growth of Aunt Alberta's Spice House has shown her that shift can soon become a reality. Wilder has sold her $10 bottles of spice at more events in 2024 than previous years, leading to more sales and greater brand exposure. Knowles, the Miami-Dade Chamber president, is optimistic when he talks about Black entrepreneurs in South Florida. He took pride in judging a recent pitch competition that featured Black health professionals. 'It's not just Black businesses growing, but I see that [many of our] young people aren't looking for a job; they're looking to create opportunities for themselves,' he said. Given the current volatility of American politics, Knowles said Black residents should support each other's business interests even more than before. 'If there's ever a time for us to wake up and support one another, the time is now,' he said.
