Bayer continues to promote its ‘Complete solution’ for summer and autumn with options such as Brito and Baquero, SV5581PH and Barden, which benefit the farmers’ pockets.
Over the past 5 years, the prices at source of the red Lamuyo have been above a euro, with an average price of 1.15 €/Kg. A trend that shows that this typology continues being “profitable” for farmers. Year after year, Almeria has consolidated itself as a producing area for this type of pepper. Francisco Tomillero, Pepper Development Manager at Bayer, recalls that even in the Almeria Levant area, which is prominently ‘tomato-growing’, the cultivation of peppers, both Lamuyo and California, is gaining terrain. Amongst the advantages compared to tomatoes, the fact that peppers mean greater stability for the workforce stands out, along with the fact that it is “more spread out over time” and above all, it is more profitable for farmers at the close of the campaign.
Bayer continues to promote its ‘Complete Lamuyo solution for summer and autumn’ with Brito, Baquero, SV5581PH and Barden. A wide range, full of advantages for the chain, starting with the farmers.
Baquero, for plantations from April to mid-July, is “the market leader in profitability.” Farmers are true to Baquero because it is the most profitable variety on its plantation date in terms of production, large size and plant hardiness, reaching the best prices at auction, according to Francisco Tomillero.
Brito, for May and June plantations, is the reference in colour, brightness and firmness. SV5581PH, recommended in plantations from mid-July to the start of August, stands out due to its firmness, endurance on the plant and the high percentage of top category fruit, making it into a reference in its segment; Barden, with a plant that has greater hardiness than SV5581PH, is easier to handle and reaches larger calibres at the start of the crop. Both Brito, SV5581PH and Barden complement Baquero with a smaller calibre, ideal for cooperatives.
Bayer continues working to bring new Lamuyo solutions, incorporating resistance to powdery mildew; and maintaining the profitability standards thanks to the production, fruit quality and ease of handling of the plants.
Simultaneously, Seminis is offering California solutions that adapt to the new market demands. “We are in a period where consumers want products that are healthier and more sustainable. Zero residue and ecological produce are gaining ground and the role of resistances is becoming more important, particularly to powdery mildew. We are working on the development of varieties which, in addition to taking all these points into account, also provide profitability.”
The company’s current offer includes Arael, its first red California for plantations from May to the beginning of July with intermediate resistance to powdery mildew. This material improves the characteristics of the main market leaders without resistance to powdery mildew, with a setting cycle that is graduated from start to finish, maintaining quality uniformity and calibre (+60% G and remainder GG) throughout the cycle with minimum levels of cracking. The fruit, in the summer months turns from chocolate to red, without any orange shades during ripening, which allows its post-harvest shelf life to be improved even more in the most critical months: from August to October, allowing the export cycle of peppers from Almeria to be brought forward, minimizing the post-harvest disadvantages in the first settings.
Tomillero emphasises Arael’s endurance of the fruit on the plants and the fast ripening of the fruit even in the winter months, making it easier for farmers to be able to schedule their harvests with greater flexibility.
Francisco Tomillero indicates the versatility of Arael, which is suitable for carrying out a long cycle ending in March, or planting another crop in the springtime, in February, harvesting 90% of the production red.”
