Both varieties carry Tm3/TSWV resistance, score highly on shelf life, and contribute to a more efficient supply chain with reduced waste Eminent Seeds will launch Stallone and Connery next year, two new sweet pointed…

Both varieties carry Tm3/TSWV resistance, score highly on shelf life, and contribute to a more efficient supply chain with reduced waste

Eminent Seeds will launch Stallone and Connery next year, two new sweet pointed pepper varieties that have been extensively tested in recent years. Both stand out for their high yields and reliable performance. “For the upcoming growing season, we expect clear acreage growth with these varieties,” says Roy van Kester, Sales Manager.

Around 2018, Eminent Seeds began professionalising its breeding program for pointed peppers, with a focus on disease resistance, yield, and reliability. In 2022 and 2023, more than 150 new varieties were evaluated in the demo greenhouse, followed by grower trials across the Netherlands in 2024. By 2025, over 10 hectares will already be planted with the new varieties, and multiple European growers have now also chosen them.

Connery is distinguished by its slim, elegant fruits and consistent fruit weight. The variety performs well in both three- and four-stem systems, combining vigour with reliability. “One advantage of Connery is that it consistently stays above 100 grams, even during hot summers,” Roy explains.

In addition to high yields, flavour was rated positively. Both BRIX measurements and blind taste panels confirmed its quality. In external variety trials, Connery proved more productive than reference varieties, while maintaining more generative growth during summer. Thanks to its straight fruit shape, class II occurrence is low, and Connery fits perfectly into 180–200g flowpack packaging.

Stallone is a vigorous variety with larger, smoother fruits and a blunt tip. This trait reduces breakage during harvest and handling, helping to limit supply chain losses. The variety performs best in a four-stem system and is well-suited for crops with lower average daily temperatures or later plantings. “That means growers can save energy while still achieving high yields,” Roy notes.

In external trials, Stallone was clearly more productive than reference varieties. It is also recognised for its excellent shelf life, both on the plant and throughout the supply chain. With its larger fruit size, Stallone is very well suited for 500g packaging, making it a logical choice for growers targeting this segment.

Both varieties carry Tm3/TSWV resistance, score highly on shelf life, and contribute to a more efficient supply chain with reduced waste. Connery is aimed at the slim-fruit, flowpack segment, while Stallone is the right choice for larger fruits and 500g packs. Together, they complement each other and give growers the flexibility to optimise their acreage.