Clause for concern: Candy cane shortage blamed on supply chain, peppermint crop

A box of freshly made candy canes is seen before being shipped out from the Hammond's Candies production facility in Denver, Colorado.

(Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

If you haven’t been able to find as many red and white candy canes in stores this year, you are not alone. The Christmas candy favorite is the latest to be impacted by holiday shortages, and the weather is not to blame this time. 

Peppermint production has been on a general decline for the past ten years in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Agriculture.

U.S. peppermint production over the last ten years. 

And even though the production has declined roughly 25% since 2011, Spangler Candy Company did not say that the weak peppermint harvest was to blame. 

"Availability of candy canes has been limited this year by a variety of supply chain delays," Spangler Candy Company CEO Kirk Vashaw said Monday. 

The Ohio-based company says that even though less have been produced, candy canes are still flying off the shelves. 

"We are seeing candy canes sell out at retail earlier than normal," Vashaw says. 

Along with the traditional red and white candy canes, Spangler also makes other flavors for people to choose from, including Skittles, Starburst, Dum-Dums, Jelly Belly and more. 

An employee works on a cooling machine during production of Dum Dum lollipops at the Spangler Candy Co. facility in Bryan, Ohio, U.S.

(Getty Images)

Vashaw noted that while they did have the supply chain delays, it wasn’t going to stop them from getting them on the shelves in time for Christmas. 

"The elves are working extra hard to catch up with demand."