Sriracha Plant May Be Forced To Shut Down
Here at AndNowUKnow, we love Sriracha hot sauce. It is made from red jalapeños, so yes, this is a produce story. Also, be on the lookout for the recently released green Sriracha!
In recent years, the popularity of Sriracha has soared. Devoted addicts know this spicy red condiment adds the perfect kick to everything from breakfast and dessert to appetizers and entrées. There are even recipes combining Sriracha and greek yogurt to create a perfect veggie dip.
Yet, is a Srirachapocalypse upon us? It may be time to start hoarding this amazing hot sauce. Huy Fong Foods, maker of Sriracha, may have to shut down or relocate its hot sauce plant in Irwindale, CA.
In 2010, the city of Irwindale was very excited about bringing the Sriracha factory to town. In fact, the city helped to finance the $40 million project. However, things have changed. Earlier this month, the city council designated the business a public nuisance, citing complaints from residents about spicy odors and burning eyes, according to Valley Public Radio.
"If your plant is deemed public nuisance and you have less than 90 days to really come up with a remedy I think his options are somewhat limited. I would say it could very well happen - that he’s forced to make the decision of relocation," said Nick Vyas, Director of the Center for Global Supply Chain Management at USC's Marshall School of Business.
The plant employs 70 full-time employees and 200 seasonal workers, and produces more than 20 million bottles of hot sauce annually.
As a result, Sriracha sauce's creator, David Tran, has received several offers to relocate the plant to other places, including the San Joaquin Valley. Other suitors include Alabama, Louisiana, Kansas, Arizona, and New Mexico, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.
"When Kern County is working with a business we can get it permitted and up and running faster than almost anywhere else in California," said Cheryl Scott, Vice President of the Kern Economic Development Corporation.
The proposed move would make sense, because Kern County is currently the home of Craig Underwood's company Underwood Ranches, which is the sole red jalapeño grower for Sriracha hot sauce.
"We have 600 acres in Kern County this year and we’re looking for another 200 acres for next year," Underwood says.
Fans are hoping beyond hope that the Sriracha keeps flowing.
Where will Huy Fong Foods end up? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more stories on the Sriracha front.
Huy Fong Foods
