The greenhouse bell pepper industry in Canada is experiencing a significant shortage, driven primarily by the devastating effects of fusarium, a soil-borne pathogen causing substantial plant loss. Ray Mastronardi, Vice President of Sales for Del Fresco Pure®, reports that bell pepper supplies are notably down this year compared to last, largely due to this disease. To compensate for the shortfall, supplies are being sourced from British Columbia and the Netherlands, which remain in good supply.
In addition to these regions, Leamington, Ontario, continues to contribute to the bell pepper supply. In the United States, local field red peppers are more abundant, with California maintaining its industry field production.
This year’s bell pepper season, which began on schedule with an ample initial supply, is expected to conclude earlier than usual due to the disease impact, wrapping up by late October to early November instead of the typical late November end date. Despite these challenges, demand for bell peppers remains steady. While there is generally a dip in demand strength in August, overall consumption of bell peppers, particularly those grown indoors, continues to rise annually.
The combination of reduced supply and consistent demand has led to higher prices, mirroring the trend from last year when a similar shortage drove prices up.
