Contexte

In a globalized context where the ownership of seeds is in the hands of large multinationals, the conservation and care of local varieties is a challenge to keep these varieties alive and growing. This will allow future generations to continue enjoying these products and continue to be a real part of agricultural production on farms in the surrounding area.
Having local varieties is to understand that precisely these are the ones that have managed to adapt to the soil and environmental conditions of each area, in addition to being selected for their organoleptic qualities. In this sense, the recovery and maintenance of these varieties not only involves recovering a patrimony, but bets on producing those varieties best adapted to our environment. It is very important, in the current agricultural context, to have not only varieties containing morphological and organoleptic values; but also better adaptation to local conditions will mean a reduction in phytosanitary treatments as crops present a less problematic disease.
The "Guindilla de Ibarra", unlike countless local varieties kept in seed banks is still a living variety, with a great acceptance among consumers who consider it as one of the best references in our horticulture.

Additional comments

Over the last few years this demand is well above the real supply that producers can take on and there is currently a very large deficit to cover the needs of packaging companies.
This significant inflows of products from other areas, both from the State and from countries outside the European Community and may endanger the future of the sector.
This mismatch between supply and demand is due to the production problems existing in this crop, producing production losses in a very significant way both at quantitative level and at quality level, mainly associated with two causes:
Those associated with the lack of crop rotation, the known phenomenon of "soil fatigue" which entails a progressive increase in soil pathogens associated with cultivation. Mainly fungi like "Verticillium and Phytopthora" and nematodes. The solution to this problem is due crop rotation, which is sometimes not easy or possible due to the renting of plots and specialization of farmers. The application of soil biodesign techniques (green fertilizers, introduction of biocidal plants to the soil, organic matter) to help improve the structure.
On the other hand there are problems associated with virosis transmitted by aphids that cause serious production losses affecting both the fresh product in local markets and the pickled product used by the packaging industry, which are the main uses of the product.
Recently, a growing incidence of the CMV virus (Cucumber Mosaic virus) has been detected in the open-air Guindilla plantations in Gipuzkoa. This virus produces very serious alterations in the fruits affecting their morphology at the level of thickening of the fruit and twisting thereof. In their internal part they fill exaggerated and early seeds that harden the quality of the fruit.

Additional information

From the point of view of the morphological and organoleptic quality of the fruits, the “Guindilla de Ibarra” corresponds to a varietal type of pepper that, in our conditions of cultivation, manages to express those properties that totally differentiate it from other chilies. The luminosity, temperature and humidity of the Cantabrian climate allow to obtain thin and elongated fruits, with little skin and a pale green coloration characteristic of the variety, and generally without itch.
It is mainly grown outdoors. The transplant takes place in mid-May and usually remains in plot until the first cold of autumn, until late September or mid-October. Depending on the producers and the degree of specialization and professionalization of the same can be grown with localized irrigation by drip with fertigation mineral or rain. As its name indicates in the area of Ibarra is where the largest area of this crop is concentrated but it is also common in other vegas guipuzcoanas and in some areas of Bizkaia.