Consumer expectations of sweet peppers have changed in recent years, but requirements from growers have also shifted. Consumers have become more focused on esthetics, which is partly caused by better varieties entering the market. "The constant demand for improved marketable qualities by the grower, helping to keep cost at bay, play a major role in the raised standard of product put in front of the consumer," says James Galante, Sweet Pepper and Tomato Product Manager at Sakata. In addition to esthetics, consumers also look for color and flavor. However, their purchasing decisions are influenced by the price at the register. At the store level, marketing shelf space has become key in attracting consumers to the product that is increasingly available in packaged format in addition to bulk. Place packs and bags have become common. Sakata offers a broad range of sweet peppers to meet these needs, including the standard bell peppers as well as snacking and specialty types.
Nitro S10® bell pepper field.
East Coast versus West Coast
From a grower perspective, high marketable yield is critical, and so is disease resistance. Growers also look at quality and fruit size. For Sakata's U.S. program, the main focus is marketable yield, both on the East Coast as well as the West Coast. "However, the genetic methods that help to achieve this goal differ from coast to coast," comments Galante. On the East Coast, especially in the southern states, growers often face inclement weather and temperature swings. Therefore, high quality coupled with resistances like bacterial leaf spot and the growing presence of phytophthora are key traits of success. "On the West Coast on the other hand, marketable yield is key, but there's also a need for tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) resistance and a plant structure that has high foliage cover to protect the fruit on long summer days," says Anali Rodriguez, Assistant Western Sweet Pepper Product Manager.
Shasta variety.
New varieties
With the needs of the two regions in mind, Sakata has developed different sweet pepper varieties. On the East Coast, Nitro S10® is being used widely as it has resistance to phytophthora, TSWV, and bacterial leaf spot race 10. "Nitro S10® is a popular variety as it offers superior quality for place pack or bags." In addition, Big Stack S10® has recently been launched, a variety with a high level of Phytophthora resistance as well as high quality, early maturity, and jumbo size. On the West Coast on the other hand, Double Up is a workhorse that has been successful and recently, Shasta was launched. "This variety marks a new era in genetics for the West as it brings an improved and vigorous plant structure as well as high adaptability and resistance to TSWV," says Anali Rodriguez, Assistant Western Sweet Pepper Product Manager. These traits ultimately result in a higher marketable yield. This adaptable variety is suitable for both fresh and processing markets.
Left: Nitro S10®. Right: Shasta variety.
Nitro S10®
For more information:
James Galante
Sakata Seed America
Tel: (239) 243-5952
[email protected]
Anali Rodriguez
Sakata Seed America
Tel: (530) 902-4337
[email protected]