SALISBURY, Md.- Holiday bakers, listen up. There could be a sugar shortage in the U.S., and just in time for the holidays.
The USDA announced sugar production has dropped significantly in recent weeks because of adverse weather in the sugar beet and sugarcane regions. According to the November 2019 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report, sugar production dropped 572,000 short tons raw value from the previous month.
Bakeries in Salisbury are in the thick of preparing Thanksgiving orders. Some bakers say it could ultimately affect business.
"I believe that it will impact us first and foremost by pricing," Susan Pratt, owner of Cake Art, says. "So I imagine that our prices will increase based on supply and demand. I believe that our purveyors have connections for buying such bulk items, because we buy in bulk. I'm hoping we might not be as affected as maybe retail."
Some bakers say they have yet to feel the pinch, though, on Delmarva.
"I haven't and it seems to me that this came up several years ago and we didn't have a problem with it then either," David Wharton, owner of Cakes By David, says. "So I kind of look at is as a reason to raise prices more than anything else."
Shoppers are gearing up to make their own homemade treats as well, and some say they'll prepare should a shortage hit Delmarva.
"Probably a little bit if there is one, I hadn't heard that. If that's gonna happen, I guess I should stock up a little bit," says Mary Sue Gladden of Salisbury.
However, Gladden says the holidays are only about one thing.
"It's always good to have the family together and they get to enjoy all the good baking," Gladden says.
The USDA says ongoing weather concerns could threaten further decreases in sugar production. The agency will announce in the coming weeks what it plans to do to make sure there's an adequate sugar supply in the U.S.