Bell Pepper
Capsicum annuum (Grossum group)
Warm-season fruiting vegetable in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown as an annual in temperate climates (Zones 4-11) from transplants set out after the last spring frost and after soil temperature 3 inches below the surface reaches 60F. The Grossum cultivar group produces blocky, non-pungent fruit (0 SHU on the Scoville scale); ripening progresses from green through yellow, orange, red, purple, brown, or black depending on cultivar. Fresh-market production is dominant in the United States; bell peppers also have established processing channels (dehydrated, frozen, brined). Drip irrigation with plastic mulch is the standard fresh-market system.
Crop Snowflake Score
Overview
Plants are tender perennials cultivated as annuals; light frost will kill the crop. Optimal growing temperature range is roughly 70-84F. Mature green peppers are the largest single market segment, but colored peppers (red, yellow, orange) command a price premium because field losses are higher and per-acre yields are lower when fruit is held on the plant to fully ripen. National average yield in 2017 was 380 cwt/acre (~38,000 lb/acre) for fresh-market bell peppers; greenhouse hydroponic yields can be substantially higher. Crop is sensitive to blossom-end rot under inconsistent moisture, sunscald on exposed fruit during heat waves, and bacterial spot in humid conditions. Rotate at least 3 years away from other solanaceous crops (tomato, eggplant, potato) to suppress soilborne disease. Consumption averages ~11 lb fresh bell pepper and ~8 lb chile pepper per capita annually in the U.S.
Growing Season
- Plant
- late spring – early summer
- Harvest
- mid-summer – first fall frost
- Frost-free days
- 100+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 1,500 – 2,200
Yield
- Typical yield
- 380 cwt/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 1 years
- Labor
- 350 hrs/acre
Market Fit
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Climate Fit
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Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
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Finance Fit
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Risk Fit
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Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Bell Pepper against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from USDA Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) Bell and Chili Peppers commodity profile (revised May 2024) — https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/bell-and-chili-peppers — and Penn State Extension Pepper Production guide — https://extension.psu.edu/pepper-production. Yield, price, and per-capita consumption figures from AgMRC; soil-temperature transplant guidance, harvest interval, and Mid-Atlantic agronomic context from Penn State Extension.
5 tracked changes across 1 data category