The bell pepper, also known as sweet pepper, is a widely cultivated vegetable crop that originates from central and South America. Although there are various shapes of sweet peppers, most are bell-shaped, which is why the term ‘bell pepper’ is more common (Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Republic of South Africa, 2013). They belong to the same species as many varieties/cultivars of hot chili peppers, Capsicum annuum. The major difference along with the commonly larger bell shape is that bell peppers are considered “sweet” and chili peppers are “hot”.
Product uses:
Bell peppers are commonly used as a fresh vegetable in salads and sandwiches, and as a cooked vegetable for a wide variety of dishes throughout the world.
