At Top Seeds, California pepper sales continue to rise in Almeria with materials such as Galiano F1 and Arnon F1.
A range that is strictly focused on the California pepper typology, with important qualities. This is how we could define the pepper offer from the plant breeder Top Seeds, from the Mitsui & Co Ltd., which has been cornering the market in Almeria, reaching a significant market share.
There are two high-potential varieties in its catalogue, which stand out due to their yield. The most recent is Galiano F1, currently in its third commercial year, which produces between 8 and 9 kg/m2 of fruit. This material, the company’s late cycle plant, is for transplants from the 20th of July to the 10th of August. Agronomically speaking, its plant is robust, with a strong root system and its ease of handling and setting stand out. Melchor Guzmán, a sales technician from Top Seeds recommends removing the whitening in a staggered way. Regarding the fruit, they are square, with an excellent deep red colour and a homogenised shape (without any points) and size (G-GG) from the beginning to the end of the crop. To all of these qualities are added high tolerances to splitting and cracking. “Although the crops are in high, damp areas, they will not split. Additionally, the fruit lasts longer on the plant and it turns red very quickly. It is highly appreciated by marketers and exporters for flow packs and also by farmers as it gives no surprises; it maintains a high percentage of top category fruit,” Guzmán affirms.
With a long history behind it, Arnon F1 is one of Top Seeds’ flagships. In this case, it is aimed at an earlier segment than Galiano F1, with transplants from the 15th of June to the 15th of July, depending on the areas. Its plant is very robust and it has a significant root system, along with open growing that makes it easy to apply treatments and encourages plant health. “It is very easy to handle and it does not need any extra requirements.” The fruit, with calibre and high quality from the very beginning, comes into production quickly and achieves an excellent yield, at times exceeding an average of 10kg/m2.
