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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Basil |
| Scientific name | Ocimum basilicum |
| Family / Genus | Lamiaceae / Ocimum |
| Produce category | Herb |
| Produce subcategory | Culinary Herb |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4885 |
| PLU — organic | 94885 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_809 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 60.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Genovese | 45% | Large, dark green leaves with intense sweet flavor and high essential oil content. Classic Italian variety with slightly cupped leaves and strong aroma. Most popular for pesto and Italian cuisine. Mod |
| Italian Large Leaf | 20% | Very large, slightly crinkled leaves with sweet, mild flavor. Vigorous growth and high yield. Common in commercial production for fresh market. Similar to Genovese but with larger leaves and milder ta |
| Sweet Basil (Common Basil) | 15% | Medium green leaves with classic basil flavor. Most widely grown type globally. Medium-sized leaves, versatile culinary use. Fast growing and productive. Industry standard for dried basil production. |
| Nufar | 8% | Fusarium-resistant hybrid with sweet Genovese-type flavor. Developed for commercial greenhouse production. Uniform growth, medium-large leaves. Extended harvest period. Popular in controlled environme |
| Thai Sweet Basil | 4% | Narrow leaves with purple stems and flowers. Licorice-anise flavor profile. Essential for Southeast Asian cuisine. More heat-tolerant and slower to bolt than Italian types. Distinctive purple-tinged f |
| Purple Ruffles | 2% | Deep purple, highly ruffled leaves with mild flavor. Ornamental and culinary use. Popular for specialty markets and garnish. Adds visual appeal to mixed herb packages. Slower growing than green variet |
| Lemon Basil | 2% | Light green leaves with strong lemon-citrus aroma and flavor. Smaller, more delicate leaves than sweet basil. Popular for specialty culinary applications, teas, and desserts. Growing niche market segm |
| Holy Basil (Tulsi) | 1.5% | Green or purple varieties with strong clove-like, peppery flavor. Sacred in Hindu tradition. Increasingly popular in health food and tea markets. Hairy leaves and stems. More medicinal applications th |
| Cinnamon Basil | 1% | Purple-veined leaves with distinct cinnamon-spice flavor. Medium-sized leaves with purple stems and flowers. Specialty market variety for unique flavor applications. Used in teas and Asian cuisine. |
| Spicy Globe | 0.5% | Compact, dwarf variety forming tight mounds. Tiny leaves with concentrated flavor. Popular for container growing and ornamental use. Less common in commercial fresh herb trade but growing in potted he |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 31.1°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 5 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 μL/kg·h typical (0.01–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | moderate |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: While basil produces minimal ethylene, it is moderately sensitive. Exposure to ethylene (>0.1 ppm) accelerates senescence, causing leaf yellowing and premature leaf drop. Critical concern in mixed loads.
Mixed-load compatibility
herbs_and_leafy_greens_cool_temp
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? Yes
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily at 5-7% annually driven by increased interest in Mediterranean cuisine, home cooking trends, farm-to-table movement, and expansion of ethnic cuisines. Organic basil growing faster at 12-15% annually. Foodservice recovery post-pandemic boosting demand.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.65 |
| Income elasticity | 0.45 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.35 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Sweet Basil (Genovese) | 65% |
| Italian Large Leaf | 15% |
| Thai Basil | 8% |
| Purple/Red Basil | 5% |
| Lemon Basil | 3% |
| Holy Basil | 2% |
| Other Specialty | 2% |
Pack sizes
- 0.75 oz clamshell (retail)
- 1.0 oz clamshell (retail)
- 2.0 oz clamshell (retail)
- 4” living pot
- 4-6 oz bunches
- 2 lb bulk case (foodservice)
- 3 lb bulk case (foodservice)
- 12-count clamshell case
- 18-count clamshell case
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.