Pepper production in Morocco’s Souss-Massa region has fallen by 30% to 40% this week due to cold nighttime temperatures and outbreaks of viral diseases such as Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMV), a local producer reported.
Nighttime temperatures in the region have dropped to 8-9°C (46-48°F), with daytime temperatures around 20-21°C (68-70°F), significantly affecting greenhouse yields, according to Obeida Mansour, a pepper producer based in Agadir. “Producers who planted virus-sensitive varieties have suffered heavy crop losses,” Mansour told Freshplaza. His company, Universal Peppers, planted virus-resistant varieties on 60% of its hectares this season but continues to face challenges.
Despite the production slump, Moroccan exporters are continuing shipments to European markets, with prices expected to rise in January as colder weather increases demand. “The lower harvest volumes align with reduced demand during the European holiday season, but prices should climb as temperatures drop further,” Mansour said.
Producers of California peppers, highly sought after in the United Kingdom, have been the hardest hit by the year-end dip in demand. However, Mansour’s Universal Peppers plans to maintain exports of three truckloads per week through January, focusing on the Kapi variety, which is popular among Turkish and Arab diasporas in Germany and in Eastern Europe.
Morocco has already achieved record California pepper exports this year. From January to August, the country exported nearly 150,000 tons of California peppers, a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to East Fruit.
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