<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - What's your state's favorite Christmas cookie? Google shares unique holiday searches"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">You might have to settle for a box of fruit-flavored candy canes this year. There's a peppermint shortage taking yet another bite out of holiday traditions.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">As the world reaches the two-year mark of the <a target="_blank" href="https://usatoday.com/news/coronavirus" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, more items are becoming scarce because of global supply chain disruptions such as congestion at ports and shortages of truck drivers and service workers.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Now, candy canes have made it onto <a target="_blank" href="/story/money/shopping/2021/12/17/food-shortage-christmas-2021/8911946002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">the long list of Christmas shortages</a> next to <a target="_blank" href="/story/money/shopping/2021/12/15/cream-cheese-shortage-philadelphia/8894180002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">cream cheese</a>.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><a target="_blank" href="https://nypost.com/2021/12/18/candy-cane-shortage-caused-by-covid-and-supply-chain-issues/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">The New York Post</a> reported that a New York candy store has run out of the classic holiday treat and received less inventory than past holiday seasons.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">►Combat Christmas shortages:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/money/shopping/2021/12/17/christmas-shortages-tips-guide/8924457002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">No cream cheese, COVID tests or PS5? Navigate Christmas shortages with these tips</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">►Food shortages 2021:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/money/shopping/2021/12/17/food-shortage-christmas-2021/8911946002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Cream cheese isn't the only shortage that could affect your Christmas amid supply chain issues</a></p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“We only received half of our candy cane order for the holiday season and sold out almost immediately. We currently have zero in stock,” Mitchell Cohen, the owner of Economy Candy on the Lower East Side, told The Post. “Raw material and ingredient shortages globally have had quite an impact.”</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">According to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Specialty_Crops/pepmint.php" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>, peppermint production has declined nearly 25% over the past decade.</p><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em_cp" aria-label="The best deals right now" data-c-cta="SHOP NOW"><div class="gnt_em_cp_cw"><img class="gnt_em_cp_cw_i" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/5c8bf163d61d56de560dacb3f845b9116f1adc6e/c=118-0-2003-1414/local/-/media/2020/10/12/USATODAY/usatsports/gettyimages-1176722932.jpg?width=258&height=193&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/5c8bf163d61d56de560dacb3f845b9116f1adc6e/c=118-0-2003-1414/local/-/media/2020/10/12/USATODAY/usatsports/gettyimages-1176722932.jpg?width=516&height=386&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt=""/></div></aside><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management, told USA TODAY that peppermint, cream cheese and international foods are among the food products in short supply.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“As...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/12/20/candy-cane-shortage-2021/8976382002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>