Decline in annual peppermint production, fueled By COVID, has caused a candy cane shortage across the U.S. ahead of the holiday season.
The COVID-19 pandemic is now two years old. As a result, it’s becoming more difficult to find items due to disruptions in global supply chains, including congestion at ports, shortages of service workers and truck drivers, and congestion at international ports.
The holiday season will affect peppermint, gingerbread houses, and ornaments for trees, but it is not the only item that has been made specifically to be used.
Economy Candy is a candy store that sells candies. It has not experienced shortages since 1937, when it opened. Mitchell Cohen, owner, stated that the store could sell over 12,000 candy canes per hour before running out of stock. The pandemic is already affecting the company.
“We received only half our holiday candy cane orders and they sold almost instantly. He told The New York Post that there is currently zero stock. The global shortages in raw materials and ingredients has had a major impact.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported that peppermint production is down by 25 percent over the past decade.
Economy Candy has experienced its first shortage of peppermint-flavored candycanes since 1937, when it opened. Mitchell Cohen, owner of Economy Candy, stated the store will sell an average 12,000 candy canes before it runs out.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), reports that peppermint crop production has dropped by 25 percent in the US over the last 10 years.
Also, the domino effect has a severe impact on gingerbread house manufacturing.
Cohen explained that it was impossible to make a gingerbread home without a candy-cane tree or door.
The Big Apple’s retail outlets were surveyed and found that they had different stock levels. Some are well-stocked with candy canes; others can barely keep their hands on enough.
It has been also reported that there is a shortage of tree ornaments.
Candy canes, often associated with Christmastide and St Nicholas Day are typically white, with red or green sprinkles, and peppermint-flavored.
A New Jersey blogger complained to WOBM that she could not find candy canes. It’s not as if boxes are empty. There are no boxes.
The shortage has also affected Tamara Keefe of Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery, St. Louis, Missouri. Her shop’s peppermint-flavored Ice Cream is second in popularity.
“It is a supply-demand relationship, correct? Keefe explained to KSDK that there is a limit on the amount of ice cream available. Keefe was a long-time worker in the food and beverage industry, learning a lot about current supply chain problems in 2021.
She said that just because the world has opened again doesn’t necessarily mean all raw materials and supply chains have been reorganized and that everything was ready for use. These shortages will be felt in 2022-2023, as production is just getting started.
Economy Candy claims that peppermint candy cane fans aren’t the only ones suffering from agony. Recent days saw the sweet boutique sell out of its kale, and ham flavored candycanes.