Texas representatives will be touring Huy Fong Foods, the maker of Sriracha hot sauce, in order to persuade the company and its employees to invest in Texas.
Texas representative Jason Villalba has been leading the attempt to bring the factory to Texas since residents in its current city of Irwindale, California have complained of itchy eyes and an unbeatably spicy smell. The city of Irwindal has gone as far as to deem the factory a public nuisance.
Joining Villalba on the tour will be Senator Carol Uresti, who will be representing the district where a majority of the chili peppers needed for the sauce are grown, State Sepresentative Hubert Vo ,who speaks Vietnamese, the native language of Huy Food owner David Tran. Attorney General Greg Abbot and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples will be attending as well.
“I am confident this group will be able to communicate with Mr. Tran and his colleagues at Huy Fong Foods the benefit of conducting business in the Lone Star State where frivolous litigation is not business as usual and we work with companies to create jobs and opportunity for all,” said Villalba.
While Tran has yet to decide on whether or not he’ll be moving his company, which has been based in California since its opening in 1980, if complaints from residents continue, it may happen.
“It’s obviously early and preliminary to suggest that they’re going to take that next step, but at least they’re open to considering it,” Villalba said. “This is a serious endeavor.”
If the factory is moved, it’ll likely be moved to a city near San Antonio.
