With several pepper-growing countries still gearing up, the price for bell peppers in the United States has strengthened.A significant amount of bell peppers are imported from Canada, and with the Canadian season not yet hitting peak volumes, the price for peppers has risen as Mexican production winds down.
"Supplies from Mexico are dwindling," says Al Lemke of Sun Belle. "Because of that, before the Canadian and Dutch get in there, the market has firmed up considerably." This window, between when Mexican imports decrease and other countries ramp up, is the cause for the market upswing.
He reported FOB prices for Mexican bell peppers were around $15 for red and yellow peppers while the price for orange peppers was slightly higher at $16 per carton. Prices for Canadian peppers were $17 for red peppers and between $18 and $19 for orange varieties.