Hot weather causing lower yields of Ontario peppers

“The conditions have been dry and we’ve also had above-average temperatures,” says Jim Veri of Exeter Produce in Exeter, Ont. “The quality is quite good given it’s been dry but the yield has been down.” Veri estimates the supply is down roughly 30 percent compared to last year.

“Demand is meeting supply right now. When you don’t have as much demand, you’re not out pushing it though,” says Veri, adding that pricing is relatively steady right now.

While the season started around the same time as last year—July 20th—the dry weather created challenges in the crop such as causing blossom drop. Last year’s crop went to the third week of October and to help finish out strong, Exeter Produces continues a practice it began two years ago, which was staggering the plantings. “We wait awhile so we have a strong size going into the fall. We’re sticking with this program because it seems to be successful,” he says.

Looking ahead, the colored field pepper program begin in the next two weeks. “While I haven’t started yet, it wouldn’t surprise me if the yield was down on that as well because the blossom drop,” says Veri. “Whenever you get the droughts with the dry heat, you have to go back and think about what you did last time it was like this. Extreme weather conditions always creates their own set of challenges.”