Germany: Final capsicum harvest to start in November

The German bell pepper season is drawing to a close. But the summer has left its marks here as well, like with many cultivars throughout Germany. "We had a somewhat later start for cultivation because of the weather," Johannes Bliestle, CEO of producer organization Reichenau-Gemüse eG, explains. "Due to the extremely hot summer, the plants are somewhat stressed. That is why this year's yield will be a bit lower than last year. Nevertheless, we are very satisfied with the quality of the bell peppers"

Johannes Bliestle, CEO of Reichenau-Gemüse eG
Photo: Angela Liebich

Last peak phase at the start of November
The cultivation conditions for the last harvest are good, as the Reichenau CEO describes the current situation: "With production spanning an entire year, bell peppers are produced in so-called swings, and these occur about six times per year. We are currently heading towards the final peak phase. This will have reached its peak by the first week of November."

Sales are stable
Altogether, capsicum sales in Germany are stable, says the CEO. "The demand for regional bell peppers on the domestic market is good. Bell peppers are still in fifth place in the top ten of most popular vegetable products", says Bliestle. Nevertheless, some bell peppers are more popular amongst consumers than others because of color. "The most popular bell pepper among Germans is the red one, by far," the expert explains. "Then come yellow and orange. Green falls behind somewhat. However, this one is very popular in Austria and Hungary. Tastes vary."

Snack- and pointed bell peppers
The CEO of the producer organization believes that other bell pepper varieties will gain importance in the future. "Snack bell peppers are on the rise, and the assortment will expand in this direction in the coming years. The pointed bell pepper is currently a niche product as well, but is a definite trend product. Once you've tasted it however, you are addicted to its sweet flavor. But like with tomatoes, there are differences between varieties that influence the flavor. That's why consumers should pay attention which type they are buying.

Johannes Bliestle
Reichenau-Gemüse eG
Marktstr. 1, 78479 Reichenau
Tel. +49 (0) 7534 9200-0
info@reichenaugemuese.de
www.reichenaugemuese.de