In late 2005, the Fiery Foods & Barbecue SuperSite ran a month-long survey to receive a snapshot of manufacturers and the market for chile peppers and their sources. Note that this was a worldwide survey, and that not every respondent replied to every question. As usual with any survey, these data should be regarded as suggestive rather than definitive.
1. What kinds of products do you manufacture or have manufactured for your company? Select all that apply.
1 Hot sauce 25.20%
2 Salsa 18.11%
3 Barbecue sauce 18.11%
4 Condiments 18.11%
5 Other 14.17%
6 Snacks 6.30%
Total Responses: 127
2. What varieties of chiles do you use in your products? Select all that apply.
1 Habanero 23.21%
2 Jalapeno 20.83%
3 Cayenne 19.05%
4 New Mexican 11.90%
5 Serrano 10.12%
6 Ancho/poblano 9.52%
7 Piquin 5.36%
Total Responses: 168
3. What varieties of chiles are difficult for you to locate? Select all that apply.
1 Habanero 34.78%
2 Piquin 19.57%
3 Serrano 13.04%
4 Cayenne 10.87%
5 Ancho/poblano 8.70%
6 Jalapeno 6.52%
7 New Mexican 6.52%
Total Responses: 46
4. What types of chile products do you buy? Select all that apply.
1 Fresh 25.00%
2 Powder 21.67%
3 Mash 15.83%
4 Dried pods 15.83%
5 Flakes 13.33%
6 Frozen 8.33%
Total Responses: 120
5. Would you like the opportunity to receive bids on chiles from different suppliers?
1 Yes 78.57%
2 No 21.43%
Total Responses: 42
6. Please rate your satisfaction level of the quality and consistency of the chile products you purchase.
1 Satisfied 64.44%
2 Very satisfied 33.33%
3 Dissatisfied 2.22%
Total Responses: 45
7. What is the size of your food company?
1 Less than $200,000 gross income per year 71.74%
2 $200,000 to $1 million per year 21.74%
3 More than $1 million per year 6.52%
Total Responses: 46
8. Do you source any of your chiles from outside the U.S.?1
No 64.10%2
Yes 23.07%3
Grow own chiles 12.82%
Total Responses: 39
9. If so, from what countries?
Mexico was the country cited the most often. Other countries mentioned included:Australia, Mexico, Peru, India, Spain, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, USA, Netherlands, China, Thailand, Bahamas, and Chile.
10. What problem(s) do you have with your chile supplier(s)?
1 None 27.27%
2 Quality/consistency: 21.21%
3 Availability: 21.21%
4 Price fluctuations: 18.18%
5 Shipping cost: 6.06%
6 Stored too long: 3.03%
7. Dealing with suppliers 3.03%
Total Responses: 33
11. What is your opinion of Latin American chile suppliers?
1 Don’t know: 52.38%
2 Good: 23.81%
3 Unreliable: 9.52%
4 Late shipments: 4.54%
5 Difficult to find: 4.54%
6 Minimum orders too high: 4.54%
Total responses: 21
