Florida Bell Peppers

• Florida is the leading U.S. producer of bell peppers.
• Florida produces 42 percent of the total U.S. crop, and 100 percent of the domestically produced winter crop.
• Palm Beach County leads the state in bell pepper production

Used throughout the world, the garden pepper is grown as a food or condiment – although strong or hot peppers predominate in Asia and Latin America, the sweet bell pepper is the most popular in the United States. There are approximately 80,000 acres of peppers planted in the U.S. This may appear to a lot of acreage; however, China, which leads the world in pepper production, grows approximately six or seven times that. Peppers are in the same family (Solanaceae) as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant.