If you thought you were going to be able to buy some Halloween-themed PEEPS next month, you would be wrong. 

No ghost PEEPS, no pumpkin PEEPS and no Frankenstein PEEPS. 

You won’t be getting any Santa PEEPS for Christmas either.

Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed another victim. 

Just Born, the company that makes PEEPS, put out a press release that they won’t be releasing any new Halloween or Christmas-themed PEEPS in 2020 because of the impact on their operations by the pandemic. 2021 Valentine’s PEEPS are a no-go as well.

In their press release the company says, “While PEEPS marshmallow candies, Mike & Ike and Hot Tamales would typically be available in fun shapes and packing sizes for the Halloween and holiday seasons, unfortunately, the seasonal varieties will not be in stores again until 2021. As yo may know, due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily suspended production of our candy brands (in March) to ensure the health and safety of our associates. In May, we resumed limited production after making extensive changes in our plant that ensure the safety of our associates. This situation resulted in us having to make the difficult decision to forego production of our seasonal candies for Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day in order to focus on meeting the expected overwhelming demand for PEEPS for next Easter season as well as our everyday candies.”

Have they ever heard of hiring more people? There are lots of people who need jobs. What about paying for overtime or acquiring more production space?  

I’m not exactly sure why they can’t get their poop in a group and produce their products for their customers.

Somehow, McDonald’s is still able to make fries during the pandemic. Lay’s is still able to make potato chips. Mars is still producing M&M’s.

Heck, Just Born should have increased production and made coronavirus shaped PEEPS for some extra cash.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have way too much popcorn in the country due to the pandemic and the closing and cancellations of movie theaters, bars, concert halls, festivals, fairs and sporting events.

The farmers are not having the big summer business that they are used to even with a sales surge in microwave popcorn. 

It’s reported that Americans eat about 30% of their popcorn at movie theaters and other public venues and that’s not happening this year.

The corn used for popcorn is usually harvested at the end of September and will keep for about a year before it’s too dry to pop so we’ll see what 2021 brings and if the farmers are able to sell their corn.

Right now, there’s an estimated 111 million pounds of unpopped and unsold corn.

Looks like Americans need to be making popcorn balls for Halloween and Christmas this year in the shape of PEEPS in order to solve both problems.