Greenhouse-grown Colored Peppers: A Profitable Alternative for Vegetable Production in Florida?

Abstract

<jats:p>The increase in U.S. demand for colored bell peppers (<jats:italic>Capsicum annuum</jats:italic>) has been satisfied with increased supplies from imports and increased domestic production. Greenhouse-grown peppers of red, orange, and yellow colors were imported during the period 1993–2002 at wholesale fruit market prices that were three to five times greater than field-grown fruits. With high market prices and a suitable environment for growing colored peppers under inexpensive greenhouse structures [&lt;$40/m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> ($3.7/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>)], up to 14 ha (34.6 acres) of greenhouses produced bell peppers in Florida in the year 2002. To estimate the profitability of a bell pepper greenhouse enterprise, a budget analysis was used to calculate the returns to capital and management. Production costs of greenhouse-grown peppers were estimated assuming the use of current technology applied in commercial greenhouse crops in Florida and in experimental crops at the University of Florida. Production assumptions included a crop of nonpruned plants grown in soilless media in a highroof polyethylene-covered greenhouse [0.78 ha (1.927 acres)] located in north-central Florida. For a fruit yield of 13 kg·m<jats:sup>–2</jats:sup> (2.7 lb/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>), the total cost of production was $41.09/m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> ($3.82/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>), the estimated return was $17.89/m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> ($1.66/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>), and the return over investment was 17.1%. A sensitivity analysis indicated that fruit yields should be greater than 7.8 kg·m<jats:sup>–2</jats:sup> (1.60 lb/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>) in order to generate positive returns based on a season average wholesale fruit price of $5.29/kg ($2.40/lb). For this price, a range of possible fruit yields [5–17 kg·m<jats:sup>–2</jats:sup> (1.0–3.5 lb/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>)] led to returns ranging from –$9.52 to 30.84/m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> (–$0.88 to 2.87/ft<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>), respectively. The estimates indicate that production of greenhouse-grown peppers could represent a viable vegetable production alternative for Florida growers.</jats:p>

Bell Pepper Fruit Yield and Quality as Influenced by Solar Radiation-based Irrigation and Container Media in a Passively Ventilated Greenhouse

“…Red fruits were harvested on 5 Feb., 11 Feb.,18 Feb.,2 Mar.,22 Mar.,13 Apr.,and 4 May (118,124,131,144,164,186,and 206 DAT respectively). Marketable fruit were weighed, counted, and graded by size following a diameter scale used for imported greenhouse-grown bell peppers: extra-large (diameter > 84.0 mm), large (76.0-83.9 mm), medium (64.0-75.9 mm), and small (56.0-63.9 mm) (Jovicich et al, 2005). Within the marketable fruit category, fruit with any visible scar from radial or russet cracking, or with yellow spots, were classified as second-quality fruit, whereas those without these blemishes were classified as first quality.…”

“…The selection of pepper cultivars with low susceptibility to fruit cracking (Aloni et al, 1998), yellow spots (Aloni et al, 1994), and blossom-end rot (Marcelis and Ho, 1999) is also a simple way to increase high-quality marketable yield. Overall marketable yields can also be increased with a longer harvest period resulting from earlier plantings, such as in late July or early August (Jovicich et al, 2005). with blossom-end rot in greenhouse Expt.…”

“…The production area of colored bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is the largest among vegetable crops grown in greenhouses in Florida (Jovicich et al, 2005), a peninsula with a mild winter and subtropical climate. Pepper plants grown in containers with soilless media and irrigated with nutrient solution get sufficient protection in high-roof, passively ventilated greenhouses (with or without heaters used occasionally).…”

“…Pepper plants grown in containers with soilless media and irrigated with nutrient solution get sufficient protection in high-roof, passively ventilated greenhouses (with or without heaters used occasionally). Market-able yields range from 6 to 15 kgÁm -2 , and are primarily dependent on the level of technology used for climate control and duration of the harvest period (Jovicich et al, 2004a(Jovicich et al, , 2005. Grown in simple and low-cost production systems, with low-to-medium capability for controlling environmental conditions, pepper plants can experience periods of extreme high or low air temperature, radiation, and air relative humidity (Jovicich et al, 2004a, b;Rilsky et al, 1994).…”

Tanggap Empat Varietas Paprika (Capsicum annuum var. Grossum) terhadap Jumlah Cabang Berbeda di Dataran Tinggi Lembang, Jawa Barat

“…Selanjutnya, penggunaan sistem dua cabang dapat digantikan dengan sistem tiga cabang agar lebih ekonomis dalam penggunaan benih (Dasgan & Abak 2003), sedangkan Esiyok et al (1994) melaporkan bahwa hasil terendah diperoleh dari tanaman paprika dengan dua cabang utama dibandingkan dengan tiga dan empat cabang utama. Selanjutnya, tanaman paprika dengan empat cabang per tanaman meningkatkan hasil buah yang besar dan hasil buah yang dapat dipasarkan dibandingkan dengan tanaman paprika dengan satu dan dua cabang per tanaman (Jovicich et al 1999(Jovicich et al , 2003(Jovicich et al , 2005.…”