It started with supply chain issues, but a failed spring harvest now means one of the country’s favorite and most iconic hot sauces will be off Capital Region shelves for months.

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As we’ve discovered with what feels like 90% of all goods on Earth, 2020 pandemic lockdowns created a shortage of inventory. Not even spicy peppers are above supply chain issues, with every step between the farming and shipping process being hampered until spring. In a release to buyers, California’s Huy Fong Foods has now announced that weather conditions devastated the existing, limited red jalapeno chili crop they need and has eliminated their products until the next harvest season.

Sauceless in Seattle (And Albany)

You may not immediately recognize the Huy Fong name, but you most certainly know the sauce they produce - Sriracha. Love it or hate it, Sriracha has become prolific in the last 15 years with its instantly recognizable green-nozzle-topped bottle with the rooster logo.

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If you’ve been looking for a bottle here in the Capital Region, you may have already noticed the short supply – turns out Huy Fong hasn’t been able to send a single bottle out since April. The chili crop failure also affects Huy Fong’s Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek, and we don’t even yet know how far the Sriracha shortage will be felt. Besides availability of the pure, uncut red gold at your favorite grocery store, Huy Fong distributes their sauce to manufacturers infusing the distinctive spice into everything from mayonnaise to chocolate.

So when will Sriracha return?

Community Takes Legal Action Against Sriracha Hot Sauce Factory Over Chile Scent In Air
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It’s not a full guarantee, but chili crop production and harvest will resume in the fall. Huy Fong is holding all existing orders in reserve until Labor Day at the absolute earliest. The demand will continue to be high, due to the backlog and limited initial chili supply, so rollout to the Capital Region may take more time. All we can do is hope for better chili weather and savor the spice we have left.

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