Sakata EMEA’s pepper product manager Javier Pérez discusses the latest launches, breeding priorities, and how the business is responding to challenges
What are the latest pepper developments at Sakata?
Javier Pérez: At Sakata, we continuously invest in pepper breeding and development to provide varieties that meet the needs of the world’s most demanding markets, offering outstanding quality, strong resistance packages, and enhanced profitability for growers.
During the latest season, we introduced several new rectangular pepper varieties, new snack pepper types, and a new yellow blocky variety specifically developed for the spring production segment in Murcia. Our breeding efforts remain focused on combining high yields, fruit quality, resistance to emerging diseases, and adaptability to increasingly challenging growing conditions.
What are your key varieties?
JP: Our pepper portfolio covers the main market segments, including blocky, rectangular, Kapia, Hot peppers, snack, etc. Among our flagship varieties are Txeco F1, Asem F1, Labretxa F1 and a new sweet bite range providing a high resistance pack for the specialised market.
All these varieties have been widely adopted by growers thanks to their reliability, production potential and fruit quality. We continue to develop varieties tailored to the specific needs of different production windows and regions, ensuring growers have solutions that meet both market and agronomic requirements.
Do you have any new or emerging varieties that you are excited about?
JP: In addition to those already mentioned, the launch of new Kapia-type varieties such as Sirene F1 and Misis F1 further strengthens our portfolio. This pepper type is highly valued by consumers for its excellent flavour and eating quality, and we believe it offers significant growth potential across European markets.
We are also seeing strong interest in our latest snack pepper developments, a segment that continues to grow across European markets due to increasing consumer demand for convenient and healthy snacking options.
How is the European market for peppers performing?
JP: The European pepper market remains dynamic and highly competitive. While consumer demand continues to be strong, growers are facing increasing production costs, labour challenges and greater pressure to produce sustainably.
At the same time, retailers are demanding consistent quality, supply reliability and products that align with consumer expectations regarding taste, appearance and sustainability. This environment is driving continuous innovation throughout the value chain, from breeding to production and marketing.
What are the key traits demanded of your peppers?
JP: The requirements vary across the supply chain, but there are several common priorities. For growers, the key traits are yield potential, disease resistance, plant adaptability, fruit uniformity and overall profitability. Retailers are increasingly focused on consistency, shelf-life, appearance, food safety and supply reliability. Consumers continue to value attractive appearance, flavour, freshness, convenience and products produced in a sustainable manner.
As a breeding company, our challenge is to combine all these requirements within the same variety.
Has the extreme summer weather affected your European production?
JP: Extreme temperatures have become an increasingly important consideration for the entire industry. In some areas, periods of intense heat have affected crop performance and increased production challenges.
This situation further highlights the importance of developing varieties with strong adaptability, plant balance and resilience under stressful growing conditions. Breeding for performance under high temperatures is becoming a key priority as climate conditions continue to evolve.
What role does new or advanced technology play in the development and production of peppers at Sakata?
JP: Technology plays a fundamental role throughout our breeding programmes. Advanced breeding tools and data-driven selection methods allow us to evaluate genetic material more efficiently and accelerate the development of improved varieties.
These technologies help us identify plants with the desired combination of agronomic performance, quality characteristics and resistance traits, enabling us to respond more quickly to the evolving needs of growers and markets.
What is your outlook for the business moving forward?
JP: The pepper sector continues to demonstrate remarkable innovation and adaptability, particularly in key production areas such as Almería, which remains a global benchmark for protected cultivation.
At Sakata, we remain committed to supporting growers through innovative genetics that contribute to a more sustainable, profitable and resilient pepper industry. We believe collaboration across the value chain will be essential to successfully address future challenges and continue delivering value to growers, retailers and consumers alike.
