"India and China are the main producers worldwide, followed by US, Mexico and Latin America, which grow excellent quality varieties. Just to make an example, it was possible to buy Habaneros already ten years ago in Spain, Portugal or the Netherlands, but they finally became available in Italy only a couple of years ago."
"There are more or less thirty species on the market, but the 10 most popular are Cayenne, cherry and bunch peppers, Calabria's horn peppers, diavolicchio (devil chillies), Habanero, Aji, Jalapeno and Mexican ones."
According to Cristiano Rizzo, this produce boomed in Italy in the past five years, although Calabria has been organising a chilli pepper fair for the last 25 years. It was Rieti's Global Chilli Pepper Fair though that managed to spread the word on new varieties.
"Many producers are trying to get organised because retail demand is increasing. Of course, enthusiasts and hobbyists have a lot of say through their organisations."
Considering that Italy imports 70% of the produce, it is one of the countries where demand is higher.
Left to right: the owner of Carmazi (Marco Carmazi), Senator Rositani (Co-founder of the Accademia del Peperoncino), Cristiano Rizzo, Professor Massimo Biagi and Professor Enzo Monaco, chairman of the Accademia nazionale del Peperoncino at the Ministry of Agriculture during the first meeting for the creation of the Chilli Pepper Committee.
"At the moment, there is not a Committee for chilli peppers, although the Ministry of Agriculture is working on it, especially since super hot chilli peppers (Habanero, Naga Morich or Trinidad) are very popular and their price can range between €12 and €25 per kilo! Currently, however, no company is able to supply the market with a ton of Trinidads, Naga Morichs or Jalapenos. In addition, it is impossible to find 1,000 kilos of fresh Carolina Reapers (the hottest in the world according to the 2012/13 Guinness World Record)."
Fresh chilli peppers are available between June and September and, in winter, produce from the Netherlands, Peru and Thailand can be found on the market.
"In Italy, there are two main companies working with peppers: Stuard and Camazzi. Production is carried out mainly in Sicily, Puglia and Calabria. Italians use mainly sweet horn chilli peppers like cruschi and friggitelli, although trottolas and topedos are also popular."
For further info:
Associazione i 7 Naghi
Cristiano Rizzo
Mob.: (+39) 333 4797742
00040 Ardea (Roma)
Email: info@i7naghi.org
Sito web: www.i7naghi.org