FOOD What is going on with spices???

Jubilee on Earth

Jubilee on Earth

Veteran Member
I went grocery shopping this morning at my local Meijer (Michigan) and it was surprisingly well-stocked. A few gaps in the can soup aisles, but that was clearly from a sale they had on Progresso soups (8 for $8). Otherwise, plenty of paper towel, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, even canned pumpkin.

However, the spices were decimated! The weird thing is they had nearly all of them with orange “clearance” tags on them. Now I’ve been shopping at Meijer long enough to know that the clearance tags means an item will be soon discontinued. That seemed ridiculous for all of these spices, so I asked a grocery worker who confirmed that yes, they would be discontinued but didn’t know why, or if they’d be replaced by anything else. I’m pretty stocked on spices so I didn’t buy anything, but there honestly wasn’t much left.

Anyone else seeing an anomaly in the spice aisles?

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Melodi

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Yes - cinnamon has been difficult to find at times, powered cloves are spotty and ginger is on and off.

They are here in Ireland, but sometimes you have to look in several spots to find them; I've even seen shortages when trying to order from The Asian Market in Dublin, especially in the larger bulk sizes (and I don't mean 20 pounds, I mean like a medium-sized zip-top bag).

For a time, Seasame seeds were nowhere to be found either, especially white ones though they are back at least on-line.
 
Grouchy Granny

Grouchy Granny

Deceased
Been that way for awhile here in lovely Denver CO - but I found it depends on the store. Walmart is pathetic to say the least so is Safeway. Safeway cut their spice selection down to almost nothing. The best I've found is Kroger, but it also depends on what you're after. I have three shelves of them in the kitchen and more in the stash - but they are all ones I use a lot.
 
T

tinfoil

Senior Member
The closest Wal Mart to me (Southwest Montana) was very low or completely out of pretty much all of the spices. This was the day before yesterday, 10/8/2020. They’ve been perpetually out of a lot of items for months now, but the spices was a new hole on the shelves.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
No problems at the Fareway or HyVee, but there limits on the big jars (one per customer).

Okay, I live in Iowa where we mostly use salt and black pepper, but I would suggest that there are work-arounds. For example, I can get fresh ginger, garlic, chilies, mushrooms, and herbs (I grow most of the ones I use and dry them myself).

You might have some similar fresh products in your area right now. There are youtubes showing you how to dry them, and that can be done in an oven or by hanging them in a dry area -- no special equipment needed.
 
The Cub

The Cub

Behold, I am coming soon.
I buy mine from a local import store. Most goods imported from Europe, ME and N. Africa.

During the height of the Chinese Virus, goods from Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal were interrupted as they were hit hard. Most have rebounded except for kalamatas, capers, Greek EVOO, Cerignolas, etc.
 
phloydius

phloydius

Veteran Member
Here is Austin (@ HEB), certain spices become hit and miss for a while, but most are still in stock. The couple I had a hard time finding, I was able to find on Amazon.

There has been discussions on and off here (and other places) for a while about the coming spice shortage this fall to spring. Maybe it is starting to hit in some places?
 
F

fairywell

Veteran Member
Loaded up on Spices about 8 weeks ago at Winco, bulk. I ended up with two plastic grocery store bags full of various spices that we use for cooking, and we cook a lot. A lot of spices come from various parts of the world and that may be why shortages are now being seen. I myself have not noticed any shortages but I have not been grocery shopping for over a month.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I told you and everyone else in your huge thread about shortages, back around April sometime, to stock up on spices because there WOULD be shortages! Spices come from India, parts of the middle east, and china... china and India have been on lock down and for quite some time. Couple this with everyone at home cooking/baking and yes there's going to be a shortage of herbs and spices. Tones is literally in my back yard as is Ameriherb and from what I'm hearing not only are they having a hard time keeping up with demand but they're having a hard time sourcing containers for the spices.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
As a part of my preps a few years back, I stocked up on spices of all kinds. The spices I use the most of, I stocked extra. Shopping for them at Sam's, in those large jugs and containers has kept me going, and I still have plenty. Last week, at Sam's here in Tupelo, MS., I saw no shortages at all.
 
Jubilee on Earth

Jubilee on Earth

Veteran Member
The Cub said:
I buy mine from a local import store. Most goods imported from Europe, ME and N. Africa.

During the height of the Chinese Virus, goods from Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal were interrupted as they were hit hard. Most have rebounded except for kalamatas, capers, Greek EVOO, Cerignolas, etc.
Click to expand...

Funny you mentioned capers. My hubs caught a bunch of salmon and is smoking some of it, and so of course I wanted cream cheese and capers. Had no problem finding them at Meijer.
 
Jubilee on Earth

Jubilee on Earth

Veteran Member
packyderms_wife said:
I told you and everyone else in your huge thread about shortages, back around April sometime, to stock up on spices because there WOULD be shortages! Spices come from India, parts of the middle east, and china... china and India have been on lock down and for quite some time. Couple this with everyone at home cooking/baking and yes there's going to be a shortage of herbs and spices. Tones is literally in my back yard as is Ameriherb and from what I'm hearing not only are they having a hard time keeping up with demand but they're having a hard time sourcing containers for the spices.
Click to expand...

I have plenty of everything and don’t need a thing. But I have to wonder do all spices come from the East? I would think some of the pepper, chipotle, chili type seasonings might come from Mexico or South America. And what about things like sage, rosemary, or mint? Is none of that produced here?

FYI, the salt was looking a little thin, too. If you don’t have all the salt you need to last a few years, go get some next time you’re out.
 
Hawkgirl_70

Hawkgirl_70

Veteran Member
What's the average life spans of common spices that are still sealed?
We like the basics: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, etc.
I have several small bottles of each that I always buy from Wal-Mart, (most are Great Value Brands), stored in my spare closet. I can buy more but I assume they lose their potency in taste at some point in time.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Hawkgirl_70 said:
What's the average life spans of common spices that are still sealed?
We like the basics: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, etc.
I have several small bottles of each that I always buy from Wal-Mart, (most are Great Value Brands), stored in my spare closet. I can buy more but I assume they lose their potency in taste at some point in time.
Click to expand...

Whole spices store longer than ground spices, storing them in a plastic bag inside of a metal tin in a cool dark place is the best practice. If you have a vacuum sealer vacuum seal the spices up in those bags and store in metal tins.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Jubilee on Earth said:
I have plenty of everything and don’t need a thing. But I have to wonder do all spices come from the East? I would think some of the pepper, chipotle, chili type seasonings might come from Mexico or South America. And what about things like sage, rosemary, or mint? Is none of that produced here?

FYI, the salt was looking a little thin, too. If you don’t have all the salt you need to last a few years, go get some next time you’re out.
Click to expand...

At this point in the war every member here should be stocked up to the best of their ability/capacity, many things that we're used to have easy access to are no longer available and won't be available for a very long time. 90% of the herbs and spices we consume come from overseas. It's long past the time to start prepping and thinking you can just run to the store and get something... because it may not be there now. Canning supplies is a prime example of this flawed thinking.
 
Bones

Bones

Living On A Prayer
Hawkgirl_70 said:
What's the average life spans of common spices that are still sealed?
We like the basics: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, etc.
I have several small bottles of each that I always buy from Wal-Mart, (most are Great Value Brands), stored in my spare closet. I can buy more but I assume they lose their potency in taste at some point in time.
Click to expand...

Most folks tout fresh fresh fresh spices. I agree, they're better fresh, but my 4 year old mustard seeds, celery seeds, cinnamon powder, etc....sure taste better that no spices at all.

My uncle made a spice shelving affair which is attached to the back of our pantry door. It uses what was wasted space. Very very handy!!!
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Meemur said:
No problems at the Fareway or HyVee, but there limits on the big jars (one per customer).

Okay, I live in Iowa where we mostly use salt and black pepper, but I would suggest that there are work-arounds. For example, I can get fresh ginger, garlic, chilies, mushrooms, and herbs (I grow most of the ones I use and dry them myself).

You might have some similar fresh products in your area right now. There are youtubes showing you how to dry them, and that can be done in an oven or by hanging them in a dry area -- no special equipment needed.
Click to expand...

Dill has been the one thing I've noticed in short supply both the seeds and the dill weed.
 
ShadowMan

ShadowMan

Designated Grumpy Old Fart
Well what do you expect....the whole friggen PLANET is on lockdown. Who's working? No one but politicians (/sarc off) and medical folks are vital anymore. So nothing is being produced....anywhere. Not really surprising at all if you think about it.
 
J

Just Plain Mom

Alien Lizard Person
We went to HEB yesterday. I actually was looking for a couple of spices, found them no problem. The shelves were full, both with organic and non-organic spices.

However, I read an article this morning that talked about, with all of the cooking and baking done at home, suppliers--including spice suppliers--are having a hard time keeping up.

That said, Jubilee, there are so many spice suppliers; maybe your store is thinning down this line so they can add another one?
 
X

xtreme_right

Veteran Member
IRoberge said:
whatever the ground spice in the jar is. I have a nutmeg grater I could use that if I had the whole "pod"
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I bought a small packet of whole nutmeg YEARS ago. I don’t use it much, just a few times a year during the holidays. I’m just about done with the first one. I’m getting close to grating my fingers. I got them at World Market. I haven’t been there since before Covid so not sure what their spices look like.
 
S

shane

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I urged a girlfriend become a dealer for Watkins once, so I could load up at wholesale prices.
High quality, like their black pepper & cinnamon you'll use less of cause no fillers. And, their
Vanilla Extract is so potent label warns to use only 1/2 as much as what your recipe calls for.
Nearly a decade later, still using dozens of Watkins spices & seasonings, seem fresh to me.

Panic Early, Beat the Rush!
- Shane
 
Grouchy Granny

Grouchy Granny

Deceased
shane said:
I urged a girlfriend become a dealer for Watkins once, so I could load up at wholesale prices.
High quality, like their black pepper & cinnamon you'll use less of cause no fillers. And, their
Vanilla Extract is so potent label warns to use only 1/2 as much as what your recipe calls for.
Nearly a decade later, still using dozens of Watkins spices & seasonings, seem fresh to me.

Panic Early, Beat the Rush!
- Shane
Click to expand...

I make my own vanilla - but if I can get it I like the stuff from Mexico (have a friend who used to go to PV several times a year and she would always bring it back for us).

So - a 1/2 gallon of decent Kentucky Bourbon, about 12 vanilla beans. Put in a jar and let sit for 4 or 5 years. I have a batch ready to bottle. I buy the Vanilla beans at Costco when they have them during the holidays fairly cheap - about $15 for 10-12 beans (better than $5 for 1 bean at the grocery store).
 
AlfaMan

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Luddite said:
Haven't found Old Bay for a few weeks. Have a couple family peeps looking.
ETA: Sam's Club had a whole pallet. All their holes seemed full. Appalachia.
Click to expand...

I think you can order Old Bay on line from their website. Here is the link. Apparently Old Bay sold out to McCormick spices , it's on their website.

OLD BAY One Pound Can Seafood Seasoning, 16 oz

Try it mixed in with tuna salad. Makes a DELICIOUS! tuna salad sandwich.
 
jazzy

jazzy

Advocate Discernment
Luddite said:
Haven't found Old Bay for a few weeks. Have a couple family peeps looking.
ETA: Sam's Club had a whole pallet. All their holes seemed full. Appalachia.
Click to expand...

you can stock up on 24oz old bay on amazon, under $10. my family .loves the stuff. they are the plastic container but you can put them in canning jars or vac seal them.

ive been watching the spice sections dwindle big time.
ypu can buy spices from a couple places in 1# bags and seal in jars. herbalcom.com is one place i go to.
 
F

fish hook

Deceased
Hawkgirl_70 said:
What's the average life spans of common spices that are still sealed?
We like the basics: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, etc.
I have several small bottles of each that I always buy from Wal-Mart, (most are Great Value Brands), stored in my spare closet. I can buy more but I assume they lose their potency in taste at some point in time.
Click to expand...
I have had to toss a couple small bottles of garlic powder because they were a solid lump.
 
closet squirrel

closet squirrel

Veteran Member
Luddite said:
Haven't found Old Bay for a few weeks. Have a couple family peeps looking.
ETA: Sam's Club had a whole pallet. All their holes seemed full. Appalachia.
Click to expand...

I couldn’t find it for weeks at any grocery store. And I’m in Maryland - Old Bay is a religion . Finally found it at Sams Club but it was in a giant container ($28 worth). I got it anyway
 
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