Peppers, Bell

Commodity Overview

Bell peppers remain popular across age groups and genders, and their popularity continues to rise. Include a variety of colors in your pepper offerings to appeal to the broadest possible swath of consumers.

PLUs

4679 brown
4680 yellow
4681 green, small (medium size and smaller)
4065 green, large (large size and larger)
4682 orange
4088 red
3119 greenhouse, green, small
3120 greenhouse, green, large
4688 greenhouse, red
4689 greenhouse, yellow
3121 greenhouse, orange

Varieties

Red Bell Peppers

Yellow Bell Peppers

Orange Bell Peppers

Green Bell Peppers

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Peppers have been lauded for their cancer-fighting abilities, but they also have other health benefits. Peppers contain vitamin C, which can fight infection, boost the immune system and prevent cancer. Red peppers contain lycopene, which has been shown to be effective in lowering the risk of certain types of cancer. Many peppers contain vitamin A, which helps maintain healthy eyesight. Some peppers also contain vitamin B6, which is important for chemical reactions in the body.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for bell peppers: fat-free, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, low-calorie and high in vitamin C.

Sales Strategies

Peppers are a versatile vegetable that can be cross-promoted with many other items, including salad mixes, salad dressing, croutons, stir-fry vegetables and soup ingredients.
Bell peppers are available year-round and a staple item in many households. Promote them throughout the year.
Fall: Promote bell peppers as a mess-free, easily portable snack for back-to-school lunches.
Winter: Promote stuffed bell peppers as a hearty entrée for cold winter nights. Add sliced peppers to veggie trays for holiday parties.
Spring: Include peppers in springtime salad promotions.
Summer: Include bell peppers in summer grilling promotions as they can be grilled by themselves or as part of a vegetable medley.
Move peppers and dip by offering samples of pepper slices and ranch dip.

Dynamic Displays

Take advantage of the variety of colors available to create an attractive bell pepper display. Offer red, orange and yellow varieties in addition to the traditional green.
Peppers look sturdy, but they will crack and crush. Don’t stack more than two or three high.
Include bags or overwrapped traypacks of peppers. Include three or four peppers of different colors in the package to encourage consumers to try all types.
Include bags of mini bell peppers on your display.
Place peppers near other salad vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers or tomatoes.
Use colored peppers as a color break among other green salad vegetables.

Food Service

Include stuffed peppers on your menu as both an appetizer and an entrée.
Use sliced peppers as a topping for hamburgers and sandwiches.
Add diced peppers to salad bars and salads.
Include peppers in omelets and quiches.

In the Backroom

Shipping
Green 35-lb. 1¼ -bushel cartons 30-lb. cartons/crates (Mexico) 28-lb. bushel, 11⁄9-bushel cartons/crates 28-lb. 3.56 dekaliter cartons 25-lb. cartons 11-lb. flat cartons (Netherlands) RPC -- 6411, 6413, 6416, 6419, 6420, 6423, 6425 Colored 15-lb. cartons 25-lb. cartons

Grades
U.S. fancy U.S. No. 1 U.S. No. 2

Handling
Temperature: 45 to 50 F, 7.2 to 10 C Relative humidity: 85-90% Mist: lightly Typical shelf life: 8 to 10 days Ethylene-sensitive (Do not store or transport ethylene-sensitive items with commodities that produce ethylene.) Odor producer (Do not store or transport odor-sensitive items with commodities that produce odors. Green peppers produce odors that will be absorbed by pineapples.) Highly sensitive to freezing injury. (Likely to suffer injury by one light freezing.) Susceptible to chilling injury (Damage sometimes is not apparent until produce is returned to a warmer temperature.)