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Vanilla Bean Shortage Could Hike Ice Cream, Bakery Prices This Summer

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Bakers can't live without it.

It makes desserts richer, and has been called one of the most powerful food ingredients ever.

Vanilla.

A single bean has thousands of tiny, potent seeds

"We scrape them out and we use them to season butter cream. We use them to season sugar," says Karen Holmes, a bakery owner.

Close to 75 percent of vanilla in the world comes from Madagascar.

"They have an incredibly low yield right now, so their beans are not coming," says Holmes.

Last year, Madagascar had a very poor vanilla bean crop. Since then, prices have been steadily rising, but the cost has really spiked in the last few months as supplies are dwindling.

"In January, we paid $80 a pound for beans. In February, we paid a $120 a pound for beans," Holmes said. "We should expect it to go up as high as $200 to $250 a pound."

Vanilla was already the second most expensive spice in the world largely because of the difficult cultivation process: Each flower opens for only one part of one day during the season. If it is not pollinated by hand on that day, no pod is produced.

Once the pods are ready to be picked, they must then be cured for as long as six months.

Experts say you may be paying more for ice cream and baked goods this summer. You may also feel the pinch when you buy soft drinks, perfumes, candles and even some medications.

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But this year's vanilla harvest is looking much sweeter and should be ready to ship in November.

"Vanilla is just one of those yummy, basic, clean, beautiful flavors in its pure form. It's really something special," said Holmes.

Locally, money editor Jon Delano spoke with Bethel Bakery which was well aware of the vanilla bean issue; but so far at least, it has not impacted prices at the popular bakery.

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