Trader Joe’s is a store known for its low prices and unique food offerings, however, if there’s one downside, it’s the occasional discontinuation of shopper favorites, like certain brands types of salsa.
Trader Joe’s currently offers several lines of salsa, including their own 100% Organic, and a tomato-less corn salsa, but past favorites such as the Island Salsa and the Sweet Smoky Peach are missing from the shelves, much to customer’s disappointment.
For more on Trader Joe’s Salsa offerings, past and current, read on.
Trader Joe’s Discontinued Salsa
Salsa is a popular condiment among many groups, on everything from chips, Mexican, Tex-mex, and as a flavoring for many other dishes.
Trader Joe’s does offer several varieties of Salsa, but these popular flavors have been reported missing by avid fans of Trader Joe’s brand of salsa:
- Island Salsa
- Sweet Smoky Peach Salsa
- Bloody Mary Salsa
- Avocado Tomatillo Salsa
- Mango Salsa
- Garlic Chipotle Salsa
- Double Roasted Chipotle Salsa
- Harissa Chipotle Salsa
Some of them, like the Bloody Mary Salsa mix, have seen a limited comeback, but most remain absent.
Why Were These Salsas Discontinued?
There are several theories, but according to Trader Joe’s management and market experts, it simply comes down to business. For whatever reason, there wasn’t enough demand for specific types of salsa to continue production.
There are multiple reasons why this might be true, including:
- A rise in the price of ingredients reduced profits.
- Slow sales result in products staying on the shelf too long.
- Cut for seasonal favorites and never returned.
How Do Customers Respond to Discontinued Salsas?
Many customers are disappointed by the loss of their favorite flavors, and they’ve made their displeasure known.
To date, there are blogs, Pinterest pages, Reddit threads, podcast episodes, and even a Facebook Page dedicated to discontinued items from Trader Joe’s. These aren’t limited to Salsa flavors, but they do make an appearance.
There are also petitions to bring back favorites, though the success is variable at best.
What Alternatives Are Customers Looking At For Discontinued Salsas?
For some Salsa flavors, customers are turning to similar products made by competitors. For others, interested parties are working on their own recipes for their favorite types of salsa.
To check the current price and availability of Trader Joe’s Salsas, click here to view the wide selection on Amazon.
Sweet And Smoky Peach Salsa:
The Peach salsa is one flavor that’s earned a lot of discussion, probably because there aren’t a lot of alternative brands for it. Looking online turns up more recipes than anything else.
The top three Peach salsa recipes seem to be from:
- Traeger Grills
- Budget Bytes
- The Online Grill
These are far from the only recipes available, however, with several variations Peach salsa enthusiasts can experiment with.
Island Salsa:
Searching through discussions reveals that customers who loved Trader Joe’s Island Salsa are now turning to, and recommending Tastes of Inspirations Mango-Pineapple Salsa from Food Lion or Giant stores.
The other recommendation seen is Wegman’s Tropical Salsa, though it may not be the first choice for avid Island Salsa fans.
Avocado Tomatillo Salsa:
Food enthusiasts and experts say that you can get something like this with a Mexican ‘salsa verde’, though it may not be exactly the same. The brand Specially Selected also markets their own line of Avocado Tomatillo Salsa.
WholesomeYum also offers an avocado tomatillo recipe for those who’d like to try their hand at making their own salsa, and they aren’t the only recipe out there, for adventurous fans of this Salsa flavor.
Mango Salsa:
Possibly one of the easiest to replace, if customers decide to mix Trader Joe’s regular salsa with their Mango Sauce, though it may not work exactly the same.
It’s also rumored that the popular condiment chain Newmann’s Own sells a variant of Mango Salsa, which may not be the same, but can work for those who are really missing that mango and spice combination.
For the adventurous, allrecipes.com has a recipe for making your own mango salsa as well.
Chipotle Salsas:
Amazon still sells some flavors of Trader Joe’s Chipotle Salsa, such as their Garlic Chipotle Salsa. In some areas, customers say the Chipotle flavors are only listed as out of stock, rather than sold out, so whether these flavors are permanently off the market remains to be seen.
Even if Trader Joe’s has discontinued their Chipotle salsas, this flavor is widespread, and highly popular in many venues.
It’s also fairly easy to find a DIY recipe at whatsgabycooking.com, among other locations, and the base recipe can be modified for specific flavors, if there’s something dedicated fans are really missing, like garlic.
How Is Trader Joe’s Responding to Queries About Discontinued Salsas?
While Trader Joe’s does listen to customer reviews, marketing experts say that every decision to discontinue a product is very carefully thought out, and reversing any of those decisions is a process that requires equal consideration.
Why Did Trader Joe’s Discontinue Certain Types of Salsa?
At the root of the matter, it simply comes down to supply costs versus demand.
The reasons behind discontinuing any specific type may vary, but most commonly, the sales weren’t enough to justify the continued costs of production, shipping, and stocking.
Whether this is due to a rise in price of ingredients and processing, or a drop in sales is a question only Trader Joe’s can answer.
What Does Trader Joe’s Plan To Do In The Future Regarding Their Salsa?
Whether discontinued salsas will be brought back remains to be seen. There may be trial samples to see if demand has changed, or limited availability sales for special events, but no guarantees.
In the meantime, Trader Joe’s urges Salsa fans to enjoy any one of their current line of salsas, such as:
- Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa
- Homemade Salsa – Especially Mild
- Salsa Autentica
- Organic Thick and Chunky Salsa
- Extra Hot Habanero Ghost Pepper Salsa
Final Thoughts:
There are no stated plans for Trader Joe’s to bring back their discontinued salsa flavors, but disappointed customers shouldn’t give up hope for their favored Smoky Peach, Island or Chipotle Salsas.
The market is always changing, and Trader Joe’s is known for their interesting products.
And if you’re really pining for your favorite flavor of salsa, there are options out there. And you’ll want to keep an eye out, just in case any of these favorites do in fact, make a comeback.
