About Rose City Pepperheads

I am Susan McCormick, the owner and jelly maker behind Rose City Pepperheads, and I pour my heart into every jar we make. In the 90s I started experimenting in my kitchen with pepper jellies, growing hot peppers and turning them into jars of sweet heat. It did not take long to see how pepper jelly could do it all, from grilling and glazing to bold, flavorful sauces, and in 1997 I turned that passion into Rose City Pepperheads. Today we have grown from a tiny kitchen project into a spicy staple in farm stands, stores, and boutiques across the United States. I do not do this alone: my jammin' crew helps plant and harvest peppers, stir the kettles, dream up new flavors, and bring our jars to markets and events. We partner with local farmers, use organic produce, berries, and peppers, and seed our hot pepper plants at one of the last urban farms in Portland. Our pepper jellies have earned more than 150 Scovie Awards, including two Grand Championships, and in the 2026 competition alone we brought home over 20 awards, including Best Packaging and Label Design for our new hot sauces. Our flavors range from mild, wild, wicked, and even scorched, with our signature Marionberry Blasts and Berry Inferno, made from five berries and finished with Ghost pepper, which won five awards in the Pepper Jelly and Hot Sauce categories this year alone. Thank you for being part of this spicy adventure and giving our products a chance to be the star on your Shelves!Read their story