Chili peppers are one of the most popular spices in the world. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, flavors and heat intensity. They have been a part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC. Today, chili peppers are indispensable ingredient to many dishes.
Many varieties of chili pepers are very easy to plant and propagate by seeds or cuttings. A lot of avid fans of hot peppers are growing their own chili peppers to ensure that they have a steady stash of the hot stuff all year round.
Chili peppers are relatively sturdy and quite easy to ship granted that they are packed properly. If you are planning to share or sell the fruits from your chili plants, here are some simple tips on how to properly pack and ship fresh chili peppers to ensure that they arrive in their best condition.
Ship chili peppers that are slightly under ripe. Pick them from the plant on the day of shipping to ensure optimum freshness.
Clean each pepper with a soft cloth to get rid of any dirt or remove moisture from dew. Do not wash them in running water to prevent introduction to moisture which can encourage growth of bacteria or mildew.
Place the chili peppers in a fresh bag or any breathable bag. Do not use ordinary plastic bags as these will trap ethylene gas that is released by the vegetables. This type of gas accelerates ripening and encourages rotting.
Place the bagged chillis in a sturdy shipping box with a lining of packing materials such as crumpled or shredded paper on the bottom. Fill the rest of the box with more packing materials. Paper is a good packing material for fruits and vegetables because it absorbs moisture in the package and keeps it away from the produce.
Close the box and shake a little to check of there is any movement inside. If the contents shift, add more packing materials. Otherwise, close the box and seal with packing tape.
Address and label the package and take to your local post office or shipping company. Do not ship near a weekend or holidays to avoid getting the package stucked in a holding area for a long time.
Note: Avoid touching your face, eyes and other thinned skinned or sensitive area of the body after handling chili peppers. Use gloves when working with very hot chili peppers.