Latest News From Peppers Chili

Shoppers can sample and purchase hatch chilies products as part of the 15th annual Chile Roast event.

If you want to get your hands on the cult-favorite smoky-spice chili grown in Hatch, N.M., don’t wait — the time is now.

Grown in Hatch, New Mexico, the smoky, versatile peppers are now available from fresh produce wholesaler, Frieda's.

The Packer's Fresh Trends 2023 survey showed that 17% of all consumers reported specialty pepper purchases in the past year.

NASA’s Plant Habitat scientists are growing space gardens with fresh vegetable favorites to supplement astronaut diets and help them endure long-duration space travel to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Shoppers need to know how to compare pepper spiciness. Use (even print out?!) this graph to help.

Bell peppers are a hit with consumers, data from The Packer's 2022 Fresh Trends consumer survey reveals.

According to the Trendspotters Panel at the 46th annual Specialty Food Association’s Winter Fancy Food Show, two major food trends to note are dates and peppers. Here are a few merchandising ideas to kick up sales.

The famous, flavorful, limited-edition Hatch Chile pepper season has started earlier than predicted.

From the East Coast to West Coast and north to Canada, bell pepper production has had a few hiccups but nothing significant — and the demand for them is causing no complaints this season.

Strawberries enjoyed a third week in a row at No. 1 on PMG, while pummelos bumped oranges down to take the No. 2 spot, landing oranges at No. 3.

Strawberries retained the No. 1 spot on PMG the week of Feb. 1, but apples rose from No. 8 the previous week to take the No. 2 slot.

Pummelos were finally knocked from their weeks-long run at No. 1 when strawberries took the top spot on PMG the week of Jan. 25.

Pummelo, oranges and strawberries carried the top three spots on PMG for the third week in a row, while lettuce rose three places to No. 4, and apples gained four spots to complete the top 5.

Pummelos and oranges maintained the top two spots on PMG the first week of January, but strawberries rejoined the list at No. 3.

Citrus surged in interest during the last few days of December, taking six of the top 20 spots.

Ark Foods opened a packinghouse in Immokalee, Fla., where the company has been farming since 2014.

Curious about Yowzers! from Mastronardi? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

While the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t cancel the Sakata Seed America’s California Field Days, it forced the company to severely limit attendance.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce is adding more heat to the Sunset lineup with Yowzers!

Bridges Produce, Portland, Ore., has begun its fall season of Mexican organic produce.

Cucumbers took back the top spot on PMG the week of Aug. 10, knocking sweet onions to No. 2.

Sweet onions unseated cucumbers as No. 1 on PMG the week of Aug. 10, climbing from No. 10 the previous week, and bulb onions took No. 2.

Hatch chiles are back, and Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif., will have its certified authentic Hatch chile packs available at retailers.

Rouses Markets has big plans for Hatch chile season.

Los Angeles-based Progressive Produce has begun harvesting the first fields of its jalapeno, Anaheim, and pasilla chili peppers.

With consumers buying more chili peppers every year, specialty peppers are taking up a larger portion of retail.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce highlighted at its United Fresh Live! booth several of its newest products, including its Honey Bombs cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine and its Shazam! and Kaboom! peppers.

The International Taste Institute, Brussels, has recognized three of Mastronardi Produce’s products with Superior Taste Awards.

Haitian mangoes continued their hold on the No. 1 spot on The Packer's PMG the week of May 25, while cucumbers gained a couple of spots to land at No. 2.

Haitian mangoes maintained their lead on The Packer's PMG the week of May 11, and the overall mango category climbed from No. 4 to No. 2.

Companies and industry associations are donating products and resources to respond to the pandemic, helping feed hungry families and keeping field workers safe.

IPR Fresh, Rio Rico, Ariz., has sweet corn and chili peppers for the first time this season, said president Jose Luis Obregon.

Pummelos and oranges remained 1-2 on Produce Market Guide the week of Feb. 3, but avocados edged out cucumbers to become No. 3.

Shenandoah Growers, Rockingham, Va., has a spicy addition to its That’s Tasty brand line of organic stir-in purées — jalapeño pepper.

A new study claims adults who have a healthy appetite for chili peppers have a lower mortality risk than those who don’t.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers “unwrapped” a case involving 100 packages of marijuana in load of vegetables in San Diego.

Pumpkins maintained their six-week reign on Produce Market Guide last week and got even more love from the platform's users as pink pumpkins entered the top 20 at No. 12.

To show that its That’s Tasty line of pureed peppers are versatile, Shenandoah Growers’ plans to serve a sweet and spicy treat at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh expo.

Mastronardi Produce,  Kingsville, Ontario, plans to make a bang! at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit expo with two new peppers.

Pumpkins and chili peppers held on to the top 2 spots on Produce Market Guide the week of Sept. 30, while apples climbed a couple of spots to the No. 3 slot.

Pumpkins held on to the top spot on Produce Market Guide the week of Sept. 9, while chili peppers gained two places from the week before to land at No. 2.

Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, has acquired a controlling interest in greenhouse grower Orangeline Farms, Leamington, Ontario, and plans more expansion in the U.S. and Canada.

The Customs and Border Protection seized almost four tons of marijuana in a truck hauling jalapenos at the Otay Mesa cargo facility in San Diego.

Produce Retailer's Ashley Nickle and The Packer's Amelia Freidline check out Fresh Trends statistics on chili peppers and try several preparations of the famous Hatch chiles on this episode of Millennials Eat.

Figs maintained their No. 1 place on Produce Market Guide last week for the sixth week in a row, but chili peppers vaulted from the No. 5 spot to No. 2.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce Hatch chili peppers will be in season in late July, ahead of the normal August start date.

Chili peppers may be available from Mexico year-round, but summer is the time for U.S. peppers to shine.

Seed company Enza Zaden’s mini sweet pepper, Tribelli, grown and marketed by Pure Hothouse Foods Inc.’s Pure Flavor brand as Aurora Bites, received the International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Award.

Red Sun Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, highlighted its Sweetpops tomatoes and Sweetpeps peppers at a recent United Way fundraiser that pairs local greenhouses with a chef and local student.