This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = pepper(GDF v2.0, 3555 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Pepper |
| Scientific name | Capsicum annuum |
| Family / Genus | Solanaceae / Capsicum |
| Produce category | Nightshade |
| Produce subcategory | Sweet Pepper |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4065 |
| PLU — organic | 94065 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_5874 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 250.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 45% | Blocky, thick-walled sweet pepper, 3-4 lobed, available in green, red, yellow, and orange; most widely grown commercial type |
| Jalapeño | 18% | Medium-hot chile (2,500-8,000 SHU), cylindrical 2-3 inches, thick-walled; used fresh and processed |
| Poblano (Ancho) | 8% | Mild chile (1,000-2,000 SHU), large heart-shaped, dark green ripening to brown-red; 4-5 inches long |
| Serrano | 6% | Hot chile (10,000-25,000 SHU), slender cylindrical 1-2 inches, thin-walled; used fresh |
| Cubanelle (Italian Frying Pepper) | 5% | Sweet to mild pepper, elongated 4-6 inches, thin-walled, yellow-green ripening to red; excellent for cooking |
| Banana Pepper | 4.5% | Sweet to mild (0-500 SHU), elongated tapered 4-8 inches, yellow ripening to red; thick-walled |
| Anaheim (California Chile) | 4% | Mild chile (500-2,500 SHU), long tapered 6-10 inches, medium-walled; versatile for roasting and stuffing |
| Cayenne | 3% | Hot chile (30,000-50,000 SHU), very slender 4-6 inches, thin-walled; primarily for drying and powder |
| Shishito | 2.5% | Japanese sweet pepper, small 3-4 inches, thin-walled, wrinkled; typically mild but 1 in 10 hot; premium specialty market |
| Cherry Pepper (Pimento) | 2% | Sweet to mild, round 1.5-2 inches, thick-walled; used for pickling and stuffing |
| Padrón | 1.5% | Spanish specialty pepper, small 2-3 inches, thin-walled; mostly mild with occasional hot; premium market |
| Jimmy Nardello | 0.5% | Italian sweet frying pepper, long tapered 8-10 inches, thin-walled, intensely sweet; specialty/farmers market |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 45°F.
- Freezing point: 30.7°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.2 μL C2H4/kg·h typical (0.1–0.4) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Peppers produce minimal ethylene and show low sensitivity. Primary concern is chilling injury, not ethylene exposure. Color development occurs on plant; no post-harvest ripening protocol needed.
Mixed-load compatibility
Group 8 - Chilling sensitive vegetables requiring 45-55°F storage
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing demand driven by ethnic cuisine adoption, health consciousness, and cooking-at-home trends. Colored bell peppers showing fastest growth (+6-8% annually). Specialty hot peppers expanding in mainstream markets.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.68 |
| Income elasticity | 0.42 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.15 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Bell Pepper (Green) | 42% |
| Bell Pepper (Red) | 18% |
| Bell Pepper (Yellow/Orange) | 12% |
| Jalapeño | 10% |
| Poblano | 5% |
| Serrano | 3.5% |
| Habanero | 2.5% |
| Other Specialty | 7% |
Pack sizes
- 25-28 lb bushel
- 11-15 lb half-bushel
- 10 lb carton
- 5 lb carton
- 1.5 lb clamshell (3-count)
- 2 lb poly bag
- Each (foodservice)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.