Steve Veneziano, vice president of sales and operations for Oakes Farms’ Grower Packer Shipper division, is lobbying the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Division to establish a USDA Grade and Delivery standard for chili peppers, stating that it will benefit the industry at large.

Read about Veneziano’s journey in a recent article from The Produce News.

Basically, Veneziano and several proponents throughout the U.S., believe a set of standards similar to how bell peppers are graded – Fancy, No. 1 and No. 2 – will create better quality control and help buyers and sellers navigate this emerging market.