How New U.S. Tariffs Threaten Small, Mission-Driven Food Makers Like Us

As the CEO of a small, artisan spice company that sources directly from farmers around the world, I’m watching the unfolding tariff changes with deep concern.

Our business model depends on a global network of smallholder farmers and sustainable sourcing partners—relationships we’ve spent years cultivating in the name of equity, transparency, and flavor. The frequent changes to tariffs on imported goods, including agricultural products, inject a wave of uncertainty into our supply chain—and directly impact the very people and communities we aim to uplift.

There’s no ‘American alternative’ to most of our products. The point of our spices is that they come from unique geographies all over the globe. We're not a massive importer moving commodities by the ton. We're a mission-driven company that buys with purpose, whether it be selecting hand-harvested pepper from small farms in Cambodia, heirloom cinnamon from Vietnam, or vanilla from Madagascar. These aren't just ingredients—they're stories, livelihoods, and traditions. Tariffs erode the effort to continue our mission-driven work.

As a small manufacturer—one of only a handful in North America that blends, packs and ships its own spices—we don't have the financial cushion or volume leverage that larger corporations enjoy. We employ 30 people here in the US, most of whom are in person in Massachusetts. We can’t easily absorb price spikes, nor can we pass along substantial increases to our customers without harming the relationships we’ve built with independent food makers, chefs, and restaurants who rely on our ingredients. Our customers are makers themselves—people who care deeply about quality and sourcing, but who are also watching their margins shrink.

Broad-stroke tariffs designed to punish global competitors are instead hurting local, values-based manufacturers and everyday consumers like you.

Our government’s approach to trade should distinguish between commodity players and companies like ours—businesses that exist to make food systems better, fairer, and more sustainable.

If we want to build a resilient, ethical, and flavorful food system in the U.S., we need policies that support—not punish—the small businesses working hardest to make it happen.

Despite these uncertain, turbulent times, Curio Spice remains committed to our mission to:

• Maintain our long-standing relationships with farmers and producers
• Pay our partners above fair trade, and pre-pay them to assist with their cash flow
• Keep our own prices as steady as possible, absorbing whatever costs we can
• Uphold our values without making concessions for commodity goods
• Keep our current catalogue secure and robust

In order to maintain these commitments, we are asking for your help. Buying our spices directly supports our mission and making a purchase during these volatile times enables us to navigate this uncertainty just a little bit better.

So…what about prices? For now, we are not planning any systematic increases to our products, but we will continue monitoring the situation closely. We thank you in advance for your continued support of our small business, and the crucial part you play in shaping the future of our world, one spice at a time.