JAMAICA — Caribbean hot sauce producers in Jamaica are facing severe shortages of Scotch bonnet peppers due to back-to-back hurricanes, extreme weather, and crop diseases in 2024. Scotch bonnet peppers, a key ingredient in Caribbean hot sauce, have become increasingly difficult to source as heavy rains, pests, and fungal diseases affect crop yields.
Hurricane Beryl struck Jamaica earlier in the year, and before recovery efforts concluded, Hurricane Melissa hit in October, described as the strongest hurricane in Jamaica’s history. The consecutive storms devastated agricultural regions, wiping out much of the Scotch bonnet crop. “Back-to-back hurricanes wiped off most of the crop so product has been scarce, and farmers are increasingly hesitant to replant,” said Drew Gray, whose company Gray’s Pepper is one of Jamaica’s largest buyers of Scotch bonnets.
The impact has driven prices sharply higher. “Right after Melissa, Scotch bonnets went up maybe 10-fold, which was crazy. Over the last two years, there's been an overall increase of about 40-50%.” He noted that Scotch bonnets are highly sensitive to wet conditions, which promote fungal growth. “If it's not hurricanes, it's adverse weather patterns. Scotch bonnets are very sensitive to overly wet weather as they get funguses.”
Extreme weather also affects the flavor and heat level of the peppers. “We might get a call from someone who says they really enjoyed our pepper sauce, but it wasn't as hot as it normally is. We have to explain it's due to too much rain,” said Sean Garbutt of Associated Manufacturers, which produces Walkerswood sauces. “We were hugely limited, and we did have to cancel orders.” He added, “After Beryl, many farmers switched to sweet potato because it's much hardier and the price per pound is better.”
Despite disruptions, some producers have maintained exports by relying on inventory buffers. Gray’s Pepper keeps about six months of stock and resumed shipments within two weeks of Hurricane Melissa. “My motto is, we need to produce no matter what. Because we are able to carry inventory, our exports haven't been affected. At the end of the day, the big chain stores don't care if you have a hurricane, they just want the product.”
Dwight Forrester of Jamaica’s Rural Agricultural Development Authority confirmed the widespread challenges. “Peppers, particularly Scotch bonnets, are facing myriad challenges right across the Caribbean. They're highly susceptible to viruses and pests like gall midges.” The Jamaican government has distributed Scotch bonnet seeds to 650 growers to support recovery efforts.