Not only asparagus and strawberries are grow in Brandenburg. Nowadays farmers also cultivate peppers. The bright red vitamin bombs are grown in Bralitz, a small village in Märkisch-Oderland.
The greenhouses where the heat-loving plants of the nightshade family grow, are on the riverbank of the river Alten Oder. Bralitz is located about five kilometres from Bad Freienwalde. They are part of the fruit and vegetable growing operation of Werder Frucht, which employs 150 people.
Since last week five to eight metric tons of peppers have been harvested on an area of about five hectares harvested, says managing director Petra Lack. The harvest mostly exists of red peppers, which are delivered to businesses in the region. This is Werder Fruchts’ second attempt when it comes to peppers. Ten years ago the idea failed due to lack of demand. But now they hope that their product finds enough buyers. "We decide at the end of the season whether it is sufficient," states Lack.
That decision will be made in the autumn. Werder Frucht has invested seven million Euros in the greenhouses. The largest competitors come from the Netherlands. Only about two percent of the 300,000 metric ton of the peppers sold nationwide originates from domestic production, especially Baden-Württemberg. Half a paprika is enough to cover the daily vitamin C requirement.