At Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Rijk Zwaan is presenting what it has described as a major new innovation in the pepper category – ‘Sweet Palermo'.
Jan Doldersum, manager for marketing & business development at Rijk Zwaan, has high expectations of the concept thanks to the pepper’s versatility combined with its particularly sweet taste.
Based on the Palermo RZ variety, Sweet Palermo is a sweet red pointed pepper which was initially produced in just a handful of locations but which is now available worldwide.
“The strength of this new ‘taste sensation’ lies in the fact that we have a red and a yellow version in our range, both with the same distinct Sweet Palermo characteristics,” says Jan Doldersum. “Consumers love the exceptionally sweet flavour, plus the versatility that Sweet Palermo offers them. It’s a real all-rounder in the kitchen since it’s perfect for grilling as well as being a delicious ingredient in fresh salads.”
Meanwhile, Sweet Palermo is popular among growers too because of its long shelf life, high yield and high brix value; on average, its brix score is 1 to 2 points higher than a standard blocky pepper.
“Palermo RZ has built up a good reputation over the years and Sweet Palermo now enables us to strengthen that even further. Moreover, various consumer studies have revealed that flavour is the primary factor in shoppers’ buying decisions for fruit and vegetables. Sweet Palermo fits perfectly into that trend.”
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