Have you ever wondered how N.C. peppers are grown and harvested? A passion for peppers has been a part of Randy Bailey's identity since he was twenty-one years old. Growing up on a family farm, Randy learned at the hands of his father what it was like to work hard producing something that you love. As a lover of spicy food, it wasn't hard for Randy to decide that he wanted to grow a wide variety of peppers. In 1989, Randy bought a portion of the family farm for himself and the journey to Bailey Farms, Inc. began!
Bailey Farms, Inc. based in Oxford, currently grows 18 different varieties of peppers year-round. With facilities in both North Carolina and Florida, they are able to keep a strong pepper supply available during the winter months. For the North Carolina-grown and harvested peppers, Randy and his team begin each year by starting pepper seeds in the greenhouse. "Laying plastic mulch with a drop tube in the middle is the very first thing that we do each season," he said. "Then we punch holes where the plants should go and hand-plant the transplants in each hole. These plants are started in our greenhouses, and it typically takes about six weeks to make a transplant." After the transplants are moved to the outdoor fields, they are left to grow until harvest season begins in early July.
All peppers grown at Bailey Farms are hand-harvested! Randy and his family work with a team of H2A workers to ensure the peppers are picked at the perfect time. Harvest season typically runs from early July to mid-October.
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