Make sure to check up on your Tennessee friends

quote:

---

The timing could not be worse.

Mustard, the topping we all turn to for our Fourth of July holiday hot dogs and burgers, is the latest supermarket item that may be a bit harder to find.

This is no 2020-toilet-paper-emergency, but you may see fewer bottles of mustard at the store, just when we need them the most for our Independence Day cookouts.

The reason? There are a number of ingredients in the condiment but mustard seeds are what’s in short supply. (The seeds are ground and mixed with water, vinegar, lemon juice and other flavorings to make mustard.)

Alex Baloga, president of the Pennsylvania Merchants Association, said drought conditions in Canada and the northern part of the United States have impacted mustard seed production.

There’s also the war in Ukraine, which has impacted the U.S. food supply in a host of areas.

---