Overview

In the last few years, U.S. consumption of all peppers has increased, moving from an average of 13 pounds per person in 2000 to 16 pounds per person in 2008. During that same time, consumption of bell peppers grew from 8 pounds to 10 pounds.  (ERS 2009)

In 2008, 16.7 million cwt of bell peppers were grown, valued at nearly $672.3 million. California leads the nation in bell pepper production (8.6 million cwt worth $312.2 million), followed by Florida (5.3 million cwt worth $267.4 million) and New Jersey (1.1 million cwt worth $32.9 million).  (NASS 2009)

The 2008 chili pepper crop totaled 3.5 million cwt and was valued at $91.5 million. New Mexico continues to lead the nation in chili pepper production (1.6 million cwt worth $31.8 million), followed by California (1.5 million cwt worth $34.8 million).  (NASS 2009)

According to the ERS (2009), the United States ranked sixth in pepper production in 2008, growing nearly 19 million cwt. With pepper production of 309 million cwt, China was, by far, the largest producer, followed by Mexico (37 million cwt).  November 2009 ... Bell and Chili Peppers

 

Marketing

• Chili Pepper Institute, New Mexico State University - An international nonprofit organization devoted to education, research, publication and archiving information related to Capsicums or chile peppers. The Institute also seeks to preserve chile germplasm of both cultivated and wild species, and to further the studies of Capsicums diseases.
• Fruit and Vegetable, Ag Marketing Service (AMS), USDA - Guides to setting up marketing orders and agreements, guide for small business persons, links to import regulations and quality standards.
• Fruits and Vegetable Outlook, National Food and Agriculture Policy Project (NFAPP), Arizona State University, 2009 - Production, consumption and price outlooks.
• Green Pepper Commodity Model, National Food and Agricultural Policy Report (NFAPR), Arizona State University - Consumption and price trends for U.S. fruits and vegetables, including bell peppers.
• Increased U.S. Imports of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2007.
• Simple and Successful Vegetable Farming: How to Sell Your Crops: Marketing, University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2000 - Marketing plan development ideas for small to intermediate size producers.
• U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Marketing: Emerging Trade Practices, Trends, and Issues, ERS, USDA, 2001 - Evaluation of changing trends from 1994 through 2001. Trade practices include fees such as volume discounts and slotting fees, as well as services like automatic inventory replenishment, special packaging and requirements for third-party food safety certification.
• U.S. Trade Internet System, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USDA.
• Vegetables and Melons Yearbook Data, ERS, USDA, 2009.

Processing/Manufacturing

• Fiery-Foods.com: The Fiery Foods & Barbecue Super Site - This commercial site has information and links to popular pepper products, trade shows, publications, agronomic information, organic growing tips, pepper condiment industry news, an industry directory for commercial processing supplies, services, or manufacturers (searchable by product, service, or geographic state location), as well as a number of other trade- and consumer-oriented topics.
• Bell Pepper Post Harvest Information, Postharvest Research and Information Center, University of California, Davis - Storage-temperature-related information.
• Quality Standards for Fresh Other Peppers, AMS, USDA, 2007.
• Roasting Fresh Chili Peppers - Chilies roasted over an open flame or in the oven impart a delicious smoky flavor to salsas or any dish that uses chilies. Roasted or smoked peppers (chipotle) are used in many traditional dishes and condiments from the Southwestern United States.

Production

• Bell Pepper, Vegetable Research and Information Center, University of California Cooperative Extension - This site provides fact sheets on bell pepper production in California, production costs, integrated pest management and postharvest.
• Bell Peppers, Vegetables and Melons Outlook, ERS, USDA, 2001.
  
• Bell Peppers and Chile Peppers, Vegetables and Melons, ERS, USDA.
• Bell Peppers Enterprise Budget, Clemson University, 2008 - A production analysis for bell peppers on plastic with drip irrigation.
• Chile Peppers, Vegetables and Melons Outlook, ERS, USDA, 2006.
• Chili Pepper, Vegetable Research and Information Center, University of California Cooperative Extension - This site provides fact sheets on chili pepper production in California, production costs, integrated pest management and postharvest. 
• Growing Chiles in New Mexico, New Mexico State University, 2004. 
• Hot Peppers & Specialty Sweet Peppers, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, 2006.
• Hot Pepper Web Ring - Ring-of-fire web ring for "chili-head" enthusiasts, products, food product development and plant culture information. Perhaps the most complete index for Fiery Food information on the Internet. It has been extensively featured in the media.
• Pepper, Midwest Vegetable Production Guide, Purdue University, 2007.
• Peppers, Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, University of Kentucky, 2008-09.
• Peppers Fact Sheet, University of Illinois Extension - Information site on pepper varieties, planting times, plant spacing and depth, care, harvesting, common problems, and a "growing FAQ." Other information includes sections on selection and storage, related nutrition and health information, home preservation and recipe tips.
• Pest Management Strategic Plan for Bell and Non-Bell Peppers in Delaware, Eastern Shore Maryland, and New Jersey; 2008.
• Production Expenses of Specialized Vegetable and Melon Farms, ERS, USDA, 2008 - This article presents and explores the major expense components of specialized U.S. and regional vegetable and melon farms during 1998-2006. The total cash expense per acre for specialized U.S. vegetable and melon farms increased 32 percent between 1998-2000 and 2004-06.
• Vegetables, NASS, USDA - This report, issued 5 times a year, provides data on bell peppers, including area harvested, prospective area, yield and production for major states.
• Vegetables 2008 Summary, NASS, USDA, 2009.
   

Businesses/Case Studies

• Chili Peppers, Farmer Profiles, Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE), USDA - Two producers are profiled; one from New Mexico and one from the Northern Mariana islands.
• Pepper Fool - Example of an Internet mail-order business. Source for seeds, information and their chili products. Photographic guide to a number of varieties, and a lot of links to various vendors.
• Santa Cruz Farm, AgMRC, Iowa State University, 2005 - This farm grows 76 different varieties of crops the entire 12 months of the year and bases their entire farm profitability on direct farm marketing, including local farmers’ markets, a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program and wholesale accounts.

 Links checked November 2009.