China's current pepper production is about 40 million tons, ranking first in the world. The 13th National Chili Industry Conference was held on the 16th in the “Hometown of Chinese Chili Peppers” in Yucheng County, Henan Province. Zhao Yumin, secretary general of the National Chili Industry Conference Organizing Committee, delivered a speech at the meeting. Zhao Yumin reported that the current pepper planting area of the country is 30 million mu, accounting for more than 12% of the vegetable planting area and pepper production has reached 40 million.
The history of pepper cultivation in Yucheng County goes back more than 400 years. At present, Yucheng County has the largest pepper market north of the Yangtze River, covering 26 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and exporting to nearly 20 countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, etc., with an annual transaction volume of 600,000 tons, a turnover of 7 billion yuan and export foreign exchange of 210 million yuan.