Half of Americans now say food costs are a major source of stress, according to a recent Press-NORC Center poll. With inflation lingering and sweeping tariffs taking effect against dozens of countries, many consumers say the pressure on household grocery budgets is rising.

Last week, long-delayed tariffs went into effect, ranging from 10 to 50 percent. Items like seafood, fruit, and olive oil are among the food imports most likely to see price hikes. Some experts say consumers could initially pay 7% more for fresh produce before prices stabilize, according to Budget Lab.

But is there a way to bypass the instability?

For shoppers like Gino Meriano, the answer is simple: buy local.

I probably save around $10 to $15 a week, Meriano, a regular at the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market, said.

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