Kontext

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 less problematic diseases.
The "Guindilla de Ibarra" and "Pimiento de Gernika", 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, the market demand is higher than the real supply 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 may endanger the future of the sector.
This mismatch between supply and demand is due to the production problems existing in these crops:

Those associated with the lack of crop rotation, which entails a progressive increase in soil pathogens associated with cultivation, mainly caused by the increase of soilborne pathogens like Verticillium and Phytopthora fungi and root-knot nematodes. The solution to this problem is 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, biodisinfestation with organic amendments) can help to reduce the problem through the reduction of activity and population of soilborne pathogens and the improvement of soil structure.
There are also problems associated with virosis transmitted by contact (Tobamoviruses) and aphids (CMV, PVY) that cause serious production losses affecting both the fresh product and the 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.