Another Sriracha Shortage Might Be Looming as Production Halts

The company told wholesale buyers in a letter this week that production was being halted.

It might be time to stock up on Sriracha again, as the ubiquitous green-capped, red bottles featuring a rooster logo might be facing yet another shortage. And the reason, once again, is due to the jalapeño chili peppers used in making the popular hot sauce. But instead of a shortage of peppers, the issue is apparently that they're not ripe enough.

Huy Fong Foods, which produces Sriracha, reportedly told wholesale buyers in a letter this week that the company has made the decision to halt production until after Labor Day.

"After reevaluating our supply of chili, we have determined that it is too green to proceed with production as it is affecting the color of the product," read the letter, obtained by USA Today. "We regret to inform you that we have decided to halt production until after Labor Day, when our next chili season starts."

"Unfortunately, all orders that have been scheduled beginning on May 6, 2024, will be canceled and the status changed to pending," the company added. In addition to Sriracha, Huy Fong Foods' chili garlic sauce and Sambal Oelek will also be impacted by the halt in production.

While red and green jalapeños come from the same plant, the green are the immature stage of the fruit and when they physiologically mature, the red jalapeños are generally sweeter and provide a more complex flavor. Huy Fong Foods has reportedly been sourcing peppers from farms in California, New Mexico, and Mexico in recent years, however drought and poor weather conditions to the region have caused crops to suffer.

The last time there was a Sriracha shortage was summer of 2023, when the demand led some hot sauce aficionados to pay upwards of $90 to get their hands on the stuff on reseller websites like eBay. Though, those who don't want to pay a premium can always try making it from scratch, if the shortage persists.