If your grocery bill feels higher this month, it’s not just inflation. Behind the sticker shock is a deep shift in the American food system. Climate extremes, supply chain breakdowns, and disruptive trade policies are colliding all at once. The impact? Critical shortages in everyday staples that millions rely on; honey, beef, coffee, citrus, and more.
Some are vanishing from shelves altogether, others are being priced out of reach. Panic buying is already underway in some regions.
What follows is a breakdown of nine food categories facing serious supply trouble this June, along with the ripple effects already reshaping how, and what, Americans eat this summer.
1. Honey
Honey bee colonies in the U.S. are collapsing at an unprecedented pace, with 60 to 70% losses expected in 2025. That wipes out much more than breakfast sweeteners. Bees pollinate 35% of the world’s food crops, including almonds, apples, and avocados. Entire harvests now hang in the balance. The $350 million honey industry is in crisis, and beekeepers are going bankrupt.
Growers are so desperate they’ll take “anything with live bees in a box.” This breakdown is triggering shortages across multiple food categories and marking the worst pollinator crisis since the 2008 collapse.
2. Specialty Coffee
Arabica coffee hit $4.41 per pound this year, driving a major spike in prices for roasters, cafés, and consumers. Droughts in Brazil and Vietnam gutted supply. U.S. tariffs tacked on another 10% to imports from coffee powerhouses like Brazil and Colombia.
Now, top brands like Folgers and JDE Peet’s are clashing with retailers over price hikes. Imports from Vietnam could soon face up to 46% tariffs, making things worse. Supply bottlenecks are building. As demand stays high but beans grow scarce, many Americans are already seeing higher prices, and fewer options, in their local coffee aisles.
3. Olive Oil
Global olive oil supplies are starting to recover, but relief is arriving slowly, and not evenly. Spain doubled its output in the 2024/25 harvest, yet Morocco remains in crisis due to drought. In the U.S., domestic production still covers only a sliver of demand, keeping reliance on imports high.
Prices have stabilized from record highs, but they’re still well above average in many regions. Shortages over the past two years triggered a wave of counterfeiting, prompting stricter testing and enforcement. As of June, availability is improving, but consumers are still paying a premium, and fraud remains a concern in lower-cost products.
4. Beef
America’s beef inventory just dropped to its lowest level since 1951, sitting at 86.7 million head. Drought, feed costs, and screwworm outbreaks in Mexico have cut off key supply routes. Even so, consumer demand hasn’t budged.
Retail prices are up 4.3%, averaging $8.15 per pound. Steer calves now fetch up to $3.40 per pound, with fed cattle hitting $198, far above last year’s $186. Industry leaders are calling this the worst supply shock in decades. Beef remains a central part of American meals, but now it’s coming at a steep price.
5. Avocados
The U.S. slapped a 25% tariff on Mexican avocados in early 2025, hitting the country’s main supplier responsible for over 80% of imports. This pushed prices to record highs, with wholesale costs nearly doubling in some cities. Peru and Colombia gained ground but can’t fully cover the shortfall due to seasonal limits and shipping challenges.
California’s largest crop in five years helps, but ongoing labor shortages delay harvests and raise costs. By June, avocados have become a clear example of how trade policy and supply chain struggles fuel soaring prices and limit availability.
6. Dairy
The U.S. dairy industry faces a sharp downturn in 2025, with milk prices expected to drop 15% from last year. USDA forecasts have fallen by $1.50 per hundredweight in just three months, while Class IV milk, used for butter and dry goods, has fallen $2.55. Tariffs from China, Mexico, and Canada have slashed export opportunities.
New federal reforms shift profits from farmers to processors. At the same time, avian flu outbreaks have hit over 1,000 herds, cutting production by up to 15%. The result is a significant shake-up that will affect dairy availability and prices through the year.
7. Citrus
America’s citrus industry is in serious decline, with 2025 production forecast at just 10.04 million pounds, and no rebound expected before 2030. Citrus greening disease, hurricane damage, and erratic weather have devastated key regions like Florida. Prices remain volatile as supply tightens.
While strong harvests in Brazil and Spain help ease some shortages, U.S. growers still face major challenges. This ongoing squeeze affects everything from orange juice to essential oils in medicine and cosmetics. The situation highlights the fragile state of domestic citrus supply and the need for urgent disease and climate solutions.
8. Exotic Spices
The U.S. spice market, valued at $26.7 billion, is facing mounting shortages and price hikes in 2025. Climate stress in key growing regions, fractured global supply chains, and new U.S. tariffs have disrupted imports, which account for over 80% of U.S. spice use. Some varieties have disappeared from shelves altogether, forcing manufacturers to reformulate products and restaurants to revise menus.
Cuisines that rely on imported spices are being hit hardest. As demand for bold, global flavors keeps growing, the current crunch is reshaping what’s available and at what cost. By June, American food culture is adjusting to a leaner, more limited spice shelf.
9. Chocolate
Chocolate is getting more expensive. In the UK, prices jumped 17.7% year-over-year in May 2025, the sharpest rise since tracking began. Global cocoa stockpiles have plunged to their lowest point in 45 years. Ghana and Ivory Coast, which supply 60% of the world’s cocoa, are facing unseasonal rains, crop diseases like swollen shoot virus, and years of underinvestment.
With yields down and prices soaring, manufacturers are cutting costs by substituting cocoa butter with palm oil and other fillers. As supply stays tight into June, chocolate lovers worldwide are seeing higher prices, smaller bars, and reformulated recipes.
A Summer of Scarcity—and a Glimpse of What’s Coming
The shortages and price surges are signs of a food system under serious strain. From tariffs and climate shocks to disease outbreaks and labor shortages, the disruptions hitting grocery stores reflect deeper structural vulnerabilities. Everyday items like honey, coffee, and citrus are becoming harder to find or afford. Some markets are stabilizing, but many remain fragile.
As consumers face higher costs and fewer choices, the message is clear: America’s food supply is more interconnected, and more exposed, than ever before. Whether this is a short-term shock or the new normal remains to be seen, but the cracks are no longer easy to ignore.