By Zoila Palma: Caribbean hot sauce producers are warning consumers to expect possible shortages and higher prices as supplies of Scotch bonnet peppers, a key ingredient in many regional sauces, continue to decline.
Manufacturers say a combination of extreme weather, plant diseases and pests has made the popular pepper increasingly difficult to source, putting pressure on production across the area, BBC reports.
In Jamaica, one of the Caribbean’s leading producers of Scotch bonnet peppers, back-to-back hurricanes have severely impacted agricultural output. Producers of well-known brands such as Walkerswood and Gray’s Pepper say they have been forced to cancel or reduce orders at times due to limited supplies. Heavy rainfall has also affected the quality and heat level of the peppers, while some farmers have shifted to hardier crops that offer better returns.
The shortages have led to sharp increases in pepper prices. According to industry representatives, the cost of Scotch bonnet peppers surged dramatically following recent hurricanes, with overall prices increasing by as much as 40 to 50 percent over the past two years.
Manufacturers in Antigua have also reported difficulties meeting demand, forcing some businesses to reduce deliveries to customers.
Despite the challenges, producers are taking steps to protect supplies, including maintaining larger inventories, experimenting with more resilient pepper varieties and supporting research into disease-resistant Scotch bonnet plants.
The post International News: Beloved Jamaican hot sauce faces supply crunch appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Caribbean hot sauce producers are warning consumers to expect possible shortages and higher prices as supplies of Scotch bonnet peppers, a key ingredient in many regional sauces, continue to decline. Manufacturers say a combination of extreme weather, plant diseases and pests has made the popular pepper increasingly difficult to source, putting pressure
The post International News: Beloved Jamaican hot sauce faces supply crunch appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
