Why Canadian hot sauce makers are sweating over a drought in Mexico

A drought in Mexico and depleting levels in the Colorado River has meant a dwindling supply of hot peppers being exported to both the United States and Canada.

Canadians may have to turn down the heat on their plates this summer as hot sauce makers struggle with supply chain issues.

A drought in Mexico and depleting levels in the Colorado River have led to a dwindling supply of hot peppers being exported to both the United States and Canada. Canadian hot sauce makers estimate that the issues will persist for at least another month — but this is only the latest in a growing string of challenges for the industry.

The disruptions in the supply of peppers, particularly red jalapenos, have been reported for over a year now, but media reports said fresh supply chain disruptions have been turning up the heat for producers in the United States over the last few months.

Nadia Harlow, the owner of Spice of Life, a hot sauce manufacturer based in Pefferlaw, Ont., said her business is also feeling the bite.

“I have faced challenges trying to get peppers. I’ve had to discontinue one of my popular sauces, just based on the fact that I just cannot find the peppers for that,” Harlow said.

While she tries to buy more Ontario-grown peppers, the growing season in the province is shorter and so fully replacing the supply chain isn’t feasible.

“That’s just a few months of the year, it’s not very long. So we do have to import,” she said.

“We rely on distributors to bring them in. It has been challenging.”