The Varieties of Peppers

There are many varieties of peppers cultivated all over the world: they differ according to their shape (elongated, conical or square), size and colour.
In general green peppers are yellow or red peppers that have not yet completely ripened; yellow peppers have a quite soft and juicy flesh, and finally red peppers are more crisp and sugary.

Traded sweet peppers are divided mainly in four categories:

• Square sweet peppers (peg top)
• square sweet peppers (blunt), Italian, Dutch and American varieties of peppers
• flat sweet peppers
• elongated sweet peppers (pointed)

Probably the most cultivated category of peppers is that of square peppers.

Among the most popular varieties of square peppers (species Capsicum annum variety grossum) traded on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

• BRAIDESE: variety of peppers with a flesh rich in organoleptic qualities and usually sweet: hotness, in fact, in this variety of peppers is very rare. Peppers have a quite irregular square shape and are yellow or red when ripe.
• CALIFORNIA WONDER: variety of peppers with large, square fruits. The flesh is thick, fleshy and sweet. This variety is very productive, suitable also for protected cultivations.
• CITRINO DIGESTIVO: variety of peppers with a resistant and productive plant. Fruit are square, slightly tapered at the base, the skin is thick and citron-yellow. The typical feature of this pepper is that it is very digestive, suitable to be eaten in salads and in vinegar.
• DOLCE DI NOCERA: variety of peppers with a sweet, medium-thick flesh and ribs on the sides. This variety can be bright yellow or red when completely ripe.
• ERCOLE: variety of peppers that becomes yellow or red when completely ripe. Fruits are square-shaped, large, fleshy and sweet. It is the largest and the earliest pepper among all sweet peppers. It is appreciated by exports markets.
• NOSTRANO MANTOVANO: variety of peppers whose fruits are elongated and square-shaped. The skin is thin and typically light green, with a very delicate taste, appreciated a lot in cuisine.
• BRACE: variety of peppers whose fruits are elongated and square-shaped, with a red skin when completely ripe. The plant is usually vigorous and has a continuos and staggered production. The surface of this pepper is smooth, regular with a very thick flesh which is bright red too.
• JOLLY YELLOW : variety of peppers with a vigorous and upright plant, whose fruits are square-shaped, three/four-lobed, slightly tapered at the base, with a thick, yellow flesh when completely ripe.
• JOLLY RED: variety of peppers whose fruits are square-shaped. The flesh is thick and sweet; the skin is red when completely ripe. The plant is vigororous and the fruits are well-disposed. It is suitable for cultivation in tunnels and in open fields.
• MAGNIGOLD: variety of peppers with a productive and upright plant; the fruits are large and square-shaped, slightly elongated. The flesh is medium thick and yellow when completely ripe. Variety that can be cultivated both in greenhouses and in open fields.
• MAGNUM: variety of peppers with a vigorous and productive plant. These peppers are large, square-shaped, slightly elongated; the flesh is thick and tends to red when fruits are completely ripe.Variety that can be cultivated both in greenhouses and in opend fields.
• SQUARE YELLOW AND RED PEPPERS: variety of peppers with a vigorous and productive plant that is resistant to the most common deseases. This is an early pepper, in spite of its large size and its shape. The flesh of this variety is sweet and fleshy, the skin can be red or yellow when fruits are completely ripe.
• TREBBIA: variety of peppers with an early plant very suitable to be cultivated in greenhouses. The fruits are square-shaped, quite regular and have a thick, yellow skin when completely ripe.
• ORANGE SQUARE PEPPER: like the square yellow and red peppers, this pepper has a vigorous and productive plant. It is an early variety in spite of the fruitsthat are large and square-shaped. The flesh is sweet and fleshy; the skin tends to orange when fruits are completely ripe.
• QUADRATO D'ASTI: variety of peppers whose fruits are very fleshy and large. They become yellow or red when ripe and are square-shaped, slightly elongated. Peppers with a ribbed surface and a sweet quite thick flesh. The plant of this variety is very productive.
• GREEN SQUARE PEPPERS: variety of peppers with a vigorous and productive plant that is resistant to the most common diseases. This variety is early, in spite of the fruits that are large, square-shaped. The flesh is sweet, fleshy and green because fruits are harvested when they are not yet ripe, even though they are already eatable. This pepper has a red skin when completely ripe.
• TOPEDO (also called "TOMATO PEPPER"): flat and ribbed variety of peppers (as to the shape, similar to the pointed tomato), used a lot, as well as for fresh consumption also to be canned in vinegar and to be stuffed. It is appreciated a lot on the markets all over the world. The plant is rustic and productive; this particular variety of peppers has a sweet and thick flesh and a red skin when fruits are completely ripe.
• YOLO WONDER: variety of pepper, whose fruits are very fleshy and three-lobed. The flesh is particularly thick and thus the fruits are resistant to transports and suitable to be imported and exported. The plant is vigorous and productive and produces peppers with a bright dark green surface with red nuances when completely ripe.

Among the most popular varieties of elongated peppers(species Capsicum annum variety longum, acuminatum) traded on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

• CAJENNE: variety of peppers, whose fruits are cylindrical and elongated; the thin flesh is very hot and the skin is bright red when completely ripe. This hot pepper is used both fresh and dried, as well as for the preparation of paprika, a very popular spice at an international level, native to Hungary. Early variety of peppers with a resistant an very productive plant.
• CORNO DI TORO: variety of peppers with an extremely productive plant, whose fruits are particularly large, horn-shaped (they can be more than 20 cm long) and that can become red (with a very tasty flesh) or yellow (with a tasty and delicate flesh) when ripe. This variety of peppers is excellent to be consumed fresh or to be used in the industry, as well as to be used in cuisine to prepare stuffed or grilled peppers.
• LOMBARDO: variety of peppers, whose fruits are cylindrical and have a sweet and thin flesh when ripe. This pepper is excellent for the production of peppers in vinegar.
• LUNGO DI CHIASSO: elongated variety of peppers of excellent quality.
• LUNGO MARCONI: variety of peppers with hanging fruits that can bel long up to 18 cm. These peppers have a lot of flesh, medium-thick with three small lobes and sweet that can be red, yellow or green.
• LUNGO DI NOCERA (called also "FRIARIELLO"): variety of peppers, whose fruits are horn-shaped with a tasty and sweet flesh that is dark green when still unripe, while becomes red when completely ripe. In cuisine these peppers can be used when still green to prepare fried peppers or peppers in vinegar.
• PEPERONE DI SENISE PGI: variety of peppers, whose fruits are elongated and thin, green or purple red. Variety that is stored dried because they contain little water, this pepper is therefore used for the production of spices, but is also consumed dried, with cheese and fresh vegetables.
• LONG HOT PEPPER: variety of peppers with a very productive plant, whose fruits are elongated (their length can range between 13 and 15 cm). This pepper is hot and red when completely ripe.
• PONTECORVO: variety of peppers, whose fruits are red, more digestive than others.
• PROBOSCIDE D'ELEFANTE: variety of peppers, whose name comes from the fruit's shape that is elongated and curved at the top.
• TORO DI SPAGNA: variety of peppers with a vevry small plant It produces hanging, conical and elongated peppers whose flesh has good organoleptic qualities.
• VERTICUS: varieties of peppers, whose fruits are elongated, conical with a good quality flesh and a slightly elongated apyx. When completely ripe, fruits are red.

Among the varieties of peppers with a truncated or conical shape (species Capsicum annum var.abbreviatum) traded on the international fruit and vegetable market there are:

• CORNELIO: pepper from the "horn" variety, sweet, with different qualities of different colours such as yellow, red or green and can be cultivated throughout all the year. It is a pepper cultivated only in Italy, following strict production rules. It is available throughout all the year, because it is a variety of peppers that is easy to be cultivated. The flesh is thick, with an excellent and typical taste. Particularly suitable for great distribution.
• GIALLO DI CUNEO TRICORNO PIEMONTESE: variety of peppers, whose fruits are conical and have a firm and particurarly thick, intense yellow flesh with a sweet taste.
• KAPPY RZ F1: variety of peppers that belongs to the family also called "goat horn peppers". Their skin is red and these peppers are perfect for summer and spring cultivations, even though thay can be cultivated also in Winter. It is a very sweet pepper exported mainly to the Northern markets of Europe.
• LANTERNA OR CAPPELLO DEL VESCOVO: variety of peppers, whose fruits have a typical shape of a spinning top. The flesh is firm and crisp, with a little hot taste and a thin skin that becomes bright red when fruits are completely ripe. The plant of this variety of peppers is early, extremely productive and very resistant.
• MONCHETTO DA FRIGGERE: variety of peppers, very suitable to be fried, the plant is early, extremely productive and very resistant. Peppers have a yellow, thin skin that becomes orange-red when completely ripe with an excellent taste.
• NANO QUARANTINO D'ASTI: variety of peppers with small berries and a ribbed surface with a lumpy apex. The plant is early and produces small, top spinning-shaped and irregular peppers that are excellent when still green. Variety of peppers largely consumed for the production of peppers in vinegar.
• NOSTRANO PIACENTINO: variety of peppers, whose fruits are elongated, conical like the variety "nostrano mantovano". The flesh is thin, with a typical light green colour and an extremely delicate taste, very appreciated in cuisine.
• PARIGINO: variety of peppers with an extremely early plant that however is not very productive The fruits are sweet.
• ALCE: variety of peppers with a tall, upright plant with short internodes; the fruits are long, conical, with a thick flesh and a skin that is green, but tends to red when they are completely ripe. Variety that is cultivated both in greenhouses and in open fields.
• DIABLO: variety of peppers which can be considered the most widespread among the peppers of the "cow's horn" group. The plant is upright, medium-tall and has short internodes. Diablo peppers are long, right and heavy and their flesh is intense red. Thanks to its characteristics, it is a variety that permits large productions with easy allegations. It can be cultivated both in greenhouses and in open fields.
• RINGO: variety of peppers with an upright plant and short internodes; the fruits are conical and they have a thick, smooth and yellow flesh when completely ripe.
• PICCOLO DI FIRENZE: variety of peppers that is used a lot for the production of peppers in vinegar. Their flesh is hot if it is not harvested when peppers are very soft. Very productive variety of plant.
• PIMENTO: variety of peppers with a very thick flesh and a typical spinning top-shape very suitable for the industry.
• QUADRATO PICCOLO DEL VENETO: variety of peppers used a lot for the production of peppers in vinegar.
• SIGARETTA BIONDO: variety of peppers whose fruits are conical, elongated, with a smooth and firm, green flesh, with a unique flavour and taste that is sweet but becomes slightly hot when ripe. The plant of this variety of peppersis rustic and extremely productive; in fact it produces even in difficult conditions or in pots.
• VERY HOT DIAVOLICCHIO CALABRESE: extremely hot variety of peppers with a very productive plant suitable also for the cultivation in pots. This pepper is small, extremely hot and with a red skin when completely ripe. It can be consumed fresh, cooked (for example for the preparation of sauces or to flavour), or dried.

Among the most popular roundish varieties of peppers traded on the international fruit and vegetable market, there are:

• ROUND HOT: hot variety of peppers. The plant is rustic, extremely productive and peppers are round, small and have a smooth surface tending to red when completely ripe. This variety of peppers is very appreciated in cuisine as a hot pepper to stuff.
• TOPEDO (also called "TOMATO PEPPER"): flat and ribbed variety of peppers (as to the shape, similar to the pointed tomato), used a lot, as well as for fresh consumption also to be canned in vinegar and to be stuffed. It is appreciated a lot on the markets all over the world. The plant is rustic and productive; this particular variety of peppers has a sweet and thick flesh and a red skin when fruits are completely ripe.

Nowadays there are many companies that produce peppers, certified companies for the production of peppers, producers of peppers, companies that produce organic peppers, companies that deal with the trade of peppers and the packaging og fruit and vegetable products, retailers of peppers, importers of peppers, exporters of peppers and wholesalers of peppers that use the countless varieties of peppers provided by the fruit and vegetable sector, with great success and a constant production throughout all the year.