b'A Market on FireSeed breeders help fuel hot pepper trend. Barb Baylor AndersonLOOK AT A MENUor the groceryexpanding production.store shelves, and it doesnt take longBayer Vegetable Seeds breeders are to see the growing influence of hot pep- developing hot pepper germplasm and pers. Demand for food spice and heathybrids for the Mexican, North American, has been rising for the last decade. Mediterranean and Asian markets. More consumers are looking for non- Growers and processors seek yield, syn-traditional tastes and taste combinationschronized maturity, field holding capacity, from around the world. Todays moreflavor and processing line adaptability.food-educated consumers dont just askWe have a long-standing history with for mild or hot flavors, they know andhot pepper breeding that goes back to request specific peppers. And as regional1958 under the Hungnong brand, focused cuisines become even more globalized,on breeding for Asia. Bayer was first to preference for foods that incorporateintroduce jalapeo pepper hybrids in the heat is expected to continue to increaseearly 1990s for the Mexican and North significantly. American markets, and now we have There is a surge in the demand ofhigh-performing hybrids for many of the hotter and higher color value peppershot pepper types consumed around the from pharmaceuticals, food and con- world, says Eckard.diments processing industries, saysSakata America also has been breed-Tyler Eckard, PhD, head of Solanaceaeing in the hot pepper segment since the Breeding, Americas for Bayer. Hot pep- Tyler Eckard of Bayer says different pepperearly 1990s. pers enhance heat, pungency, warmthflavors are required to meet taste demands.Sakata America became a market and bite and color of prepared foods.leader first in the ancho and jalapeo Different flavors are required to meetsegments by improving yield, size and taste demands of a broad demographic. variety, he says. Chefs are incorporatingdisease resistance to deliver on grower Given the great diversity and vari- new ways of adding heat to their plates.needs. We had great success with the El ability of hot pepper types, consumersYou find salsas or at least hot sauceJefe and Caballero varieties during the are also increasingly requesting them inpretty much in every restaurant. Pizzaearly hybrid phase of the business, says various ways, including fresh, processedparlors are adding jalapeos as a top- Hurtado. Sakata continues to lead in and stuffed, adds Salvador Hurtado, hotping, and who doesnt throw some heat inthe ancho and guajillo markets and has pepper, melon and Latin America seniorhomemade chili sauce or salad dressing? now diversified its line into the anaheim, product manager for Sakata America.serrano, habanero and specialty pepper That opens more doors for seedPicking a Peck of Pepper Hybrids segments. producers. Developing the same typeWith so much promise in the market, hotHot pepper seed breeders stress it of pepper for different markets pro- pepper seed breeders are focused onis critical to keep pace with the rising vides opportunity to be more detailed innot only different pepper consumers andconsumption trend. And so far, they have. our search for the next market-leadingmarkets, but also on increasing yield andEckard says yields have increased from 50/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2021'