The weather in Crete has not been very cold so far, enabling greenhouse peppers to yield about 45 tons per hectare. According to Mr. Nikos Tsourdinis, owner of the Cretan packing company Tsourdinis S.A., it seems that production will remain close to these levels—albeit slightly lower—for quite some time. "I don't expect a significant decrease in production—if it happens at all—in the coming weeks. We will maintain similar supply volumes. What concerns me is water availability. Despite the fact that December was rainy enough, the dams are still not full. We need more rain to ensure water security for the whole season."
Cretan peppers are currently among the highest-priced Cretan greenhouse vegetables. "Long-type peppers fetch the highest prices. Grower prices currently stand at 1,70–1,95 euros/kg for Florinis peppers (long, red type), 1,60 euros for Hungarian peppers (long, crème-colored type), and 1,50 euros for the so-called 'kerato' peppers (elongated, light green variety with a curved shape). The other types of peppers are cultivated mostly for the domestic market. So, they attract less demand and lower prices," says Mr. Tsourdinis.
The Greek exporter also highlights that Cretan peppers face strong competition from Spanish and Moroccan peppers: "Peppers from these countries are consistently cheaper than Greek ones. We expect new pressure on the market starting at the end of February or the beginning of March when Dutch peppers will enter the market. However, the Dutch crop arrives in large volumes from May onwards. During that period, our yield can reach up to 120 tons per hectare."
Hungarian peppers are a relatively new variety among Cretan growers, and Tsourdinis S.A. is one of the few Cretan exporters that guarantee the supply of this type. As the Greek exporter notes: "We supply all types of peppers and greenhouse vegetables. Each season, we create a plan with our growers based on the programs we discuss with our clients. Hungarian peppers first appeared in Crete about 10 years ago, and there are various different seed options. Growers must be diligent when cultivating this variety. Its light, crème color makes handling it much more demanding compared to peppers of other colors."
For more information:
Nikos Tsourdinis
Tsourdinis S.A.
Tel: +30 289 205 3396
Email: [email protected]