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Sriracha Shortage may last through Summer 2022 Into Labor Day

Commentary

Huy Fong Inc., which is based out of Southern California warns of a pending Sriracha hot sauce shortage that can last through the summer. This is due to a shortage of chili peppers, according to the manufacturer of their famous, spicy condiment.

In an email that Huy Fong sent out to its customers on April 19, 2022, the company stated that all orders the company received after that date would not be fulfilled until after Labor Day. 

“Unfortunately, this is out of our control and without this essential ingredient we are unable to produce any of our products,” the company said. “We hope for a fruitful fall season and thank our customers for their patience and continued support during this difficult time.”

The company sources its peppers from different farms across the states of California, New Mexico, and Mexico. They also added that weather conditions are playing a significant factor in the quality of the peppers and adding to the chili pepper shortage. 

 

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Hot temperatures and historic drought conditions across the western states have been taking a heavy toll on California’s agriculture. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that the whole state was in “severe drought” as of last week, with the Central Valley facing “extreme drought” conditions. The halt in production not only applies to the companies infamous for Sriracha hot chili sauce but the production of its Chili Garlic and Sambel Oelek products will also be affected. 

 

One restaurant in the state of Kentucky is already feeling the effects of the Sriracha shortage. Brady’s Sushi and Hibachi said in a Facebook post it may no longer offer free Sriracha at its tables because of the shortage, and would also limit one spicy mayo per two rolls. In late May, they warned customers through an Instagram post that they might no longer be able to provide the Sriracha as a free condiment to its customers. A day later, the restaurant wrote: “We know we are loved when you wait outside our door in the morning to drop off the Sriracha bottles you found on the shelves at [a] local grocery store.”

 

The global food supply encountered shake-ups and shortages ever since the spring of 2020 but now has been intensified by record inflation numbers and according to mainstream news sources, the ongoing war in Ukraine.

On June 1st, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its plan to lay out a framework that they hope will transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers, and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new markets for small and mid-size producers. According to the USDA, they are building on lessons learned throughout the pandemic, and Russia’s continued war in Ukraine. They also plan to work on methods to strengthen food supply chains and address structural challenges that were intensified by the pandemic. 

 

Customers are not taking this news lightly. Some hardcore Sriracha fans have decided to clear the shelves of their local grocery stores to prepare for their foreseeable future of bland, spiceless food. 
Which has enraged other diehard fans of the hot sauce, and they are comparing the folks clearing the shelves to those who hoarded toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and Clorox wipes during the start of the pandemic in 2020. 

 

Sriracha was created in 1980 by Vietnamese Immigrant, David Tran, and has made it onto the shelves of the country’s largest retailers including Target, Whole Foods, Sams Club, and Walmart. and has been a fan favorite of consumers since then.