If it seems like Sriracha sauce has been missing from grocery store shelves for the past couple months, it has.
What You Need To Know
- The shortage is because of a failed chili pepper harvest in northern Mexico
- Back-to-back La Niñas and severe drought in the Southwest and Mexico are the cause
- The maker of Sriracha sauce has stopped production because of the chili pepper shortage
Severe weather conditions affect food and product supply all the time, but how often does it change your use? I have to admit, after hearing about this, I now only use the bottle in my fridge for special occasions.
The past half dozen times I've been to the grocery store, I've looked for it, only to find its spot on an shelf empty. If you can find it, first off, let me know, but also know that you may have to pay a steep price for it right now because of the low supply.
Sriracha sauce is made from a unique pepper that only grows in the southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Farmers only grow these types of peppers during the first four months of the year, and they need constant irrigation.
Mexico is in a two-year drought, which consecutive La Niña events have only made worse. This has made it near impossible for irrigation, which led to a very sparse spring chili harvest.
If conditions like this persist, not only will the Sriracha sauce supply worsen, but other foods from the same regions, like avocados, will likely become more expensive or hard to find.
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