Faltering supplies of scotch bonnets push up hot sauce prices

A shortage of Scotch bonnet peppers, caused by hurricanes, disease, and pests in Jamaica, has led to a tenfold price increase for the crop. This has driven up Caribbean hot sauce prices, with US demand being a key factor. Producers are shifting to hardier crops like sweet potatoes, while manufacturers invest in genetics research to develop more resilient Scotch bonnet strains.