Sriracha maker would consider expansion in Texas,
Two legislators tell Sriracha maker of incentives in Texas.
The maker of the popular hot sauce Sriracha said Monday that he has no plans to move his contested plant out of California but would consider expanding into Texas if the Lone Star State can produce peppers as hot as the ones grown especially for him in Southern California.
A pair of Texas lawmakers toured the Huy Fong Foods plant Monday in the small Los Angeles suburb of Irwindale, where officials are moving to declare David Tran’s plant a nuisance after dozens of residents complained about flaming hot odors burning their throats and eyes.
State Sen. Carlos Uresti and state Rep. Jason Villalba held a news conference after the visit to extol the virtues of doing business in their state.
“We’re not here to offer any specific incentives, but just to let it be known there are incentives,” Uresti said. He and Villalba noted Texas has no personal income tax, among other benefits.
Tran said Texas must prove it can grow chili peppers as hot as the hybrid jalapeños he gets from a farm that specifically developed them to make his Sriracha sauce the hottest possible.
Huy Fong, located in the small, mainly industrial city of Irwindale, has come under fire from local lawmakers who say about three dozen of the city’s 1,500 residents have signed sworn complaints that the odors from the plant’s chili-grinding operation makes them sneeze and cough, their eyes burn and in some instances, sent them to doctors.
The City Council is scheduled Wednesday to give final approval to an ordinance declaring the plant a public nuisance.
If the ordinance is approved, city officials say they could enter the plant and make changes to mitigate the smell.
“I don’t think they can do that,” Tran said.
Tran said the 650,000-square-foot plant is nearing capacity, and he will need a second facility soon. He said he would be open to putting a second plant in California or another state, but key is finding the weather and soil to support the hybrid peppers.
Uresti and Villalba said Texas agriculture officials will begin investigating conditions in Texas.