CAPSICUM

This season we will increase the growing area and invest more in our growing methods (heating and chilling) and in advanced packing facilities. The possibility of sending capsicum to the American market enables us to enlarge the season and start as early as October and keep continuity with quality produce (thanks to heating facilities) up to May.

The volume authorized for the U.S.A market is about 1500 tons.

1. Supply

Most of the growers will start with the transplanting at the first week of August. Growing time in that season takes about 90 days and the harvest will start the second week of November. We will start with the yellow colors the Red and the Orange will follow 1 – 2 weeks later.

Table 4.  Harvest distribution through the season, in (%) of the total yield.  

Table 5. Arrival time – Pallets per week  

1.     Variants

All the varieties grown today are hybrids with two main types: the Lamuyo and the Blocky. Most of the varieties are Dutch and there are constant trials to adapt and study new varieties with better characters for plastic and shade houses.  

The Lamuyo types are mostly large elongated, fruit has 4 lobes.

Blocky types are of course with the blocky fruit shape and the fruit walls are thick.

1. Mendy - Red color, Low growing plant, High yield

2. 2417- Red color, main variety for heated plastic house with very thick walls, long shelf life, and high percentage of export quality.

3. Parker- Red color, Imported variant, High quality fruit especially Nov-Jan, Uniform harvest through the season, tendency for big size fruit suitable for the U.S. market.

4. 5767- Red color, imported variant. Very nice fruit, Perfect 4 lobs, High quality fruit at the end of the season, Harvest peak in March.

5. Carizma-Red color, Imported variant, high quality fruits especially during Nov-Dec. Harvest peak, Export yield Up to 65%, Uniform fruit size through the season 175-195gr.

6. 107-Red color, Local variant, Well organized growth, Conical fruit type, High quality fruit December through March, Harvest peak at February, Uniform fruit size through the season 140-170gr.

7. Turcal-Red color, Imported variant, mostly suitable to growth under shad construction, High quality fruit during Nov-Jan, Uniform yields volume and fruit size through the season average weight 140-160gr.tendancy of cracking at the end of the season.

8. Bosanova- Yellow color, imported variant, Very high quality fruits through the season, Best quality at November. Fruit size vary between 140-200gr. 

9. Niebla-Yellow color, Imported variant, Very firm fruit, Keeps it good quality through the season, fruit size 180-200gr.

10. Lion- Orange color, Keeps it good quality through the season, With 2  Harvest peaks the first one on Dec-Jan and the second peak at April. Fruit size is growing through the season from140gr at the beginning up to 190gr at the end.

11. Armo- Orange color, Imported new variant, big plant with vigor, High quality fruit, Fruit size starts small and gets bigger through the season.

3. Size

The size measurements that we use are:

Small- 60-75 mm, Medium– 75-80mm, ML – 75-85mm (30 Pcs.)145 – 190gr.                  Large– 85-90mm(24 Pcs.)190 – 230gr., XL (USA) 85-100mm, XXL (USA) – 100-up

Table 6. The changes of sizes through the season (shown in %).   

Most of the growers have the possibility to pack according to weight as well as diameter, which mean a uniform number of fruit per box. 

4. Agrotechnic

The capsicums in the Israeli desert are grown in two methods. The main growing area (2/3 of the acreage) is under shed construction (40% shade) and the other part (1/3) is growing under plastic houses. The plants are shaped by trimming and are grown along strings (similar to the Dutch technique). In the beginning of the growth we cut off the first 3-4 levels of fruit to develop a vigorous plant, later the overcrowded fruits are also cut off in a way that it will not affect one each other or the continuity of the harvest. Control of light and temperature of each variety differently enables us to get the most out of it. We choose the variants with best quality fruit also with an open, high upright growth and a continuance, non-stop, pollination with the winter desert conditions. 

5. Post harvest

To retain peak condition, the harvested Capsicum must be cooled rapidly to reduce its field heat. The fast cooling is follow by storage at a constant temperature, high humidity (90-95%) and suitable air movement. The packed pallets are loaded into a pre cooled frigo trailer. 

6. Packaging

 Packed in 5 kg. Cartons. Each pallet contains 100 cartons.

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