The hot pepper business is en fuego! While total market size in the United States stood at about $1.28 billion in 2022, predictably, it will continue to grow as the chili pepper has become an American kitchen staple. Although multinational corporations like the Kraft Heinz Company, McCormick, Campbell, and Unilever lead the way, the next tier of privately held businesses are catching up, fueled by innovation, trends, and leaning into the diversification of American cultural taste demands.

Enter Smokin' Ed Currie, the most famous pepper breeder on the planet. In fact, Ed's farm grows more than 100,000 pepper plants annually. A modern day Gregor Mendel, this three-time Guinness Book World of Records holder has created the world's hottest chilis: the Carolina Reaper, and the current hottie of hotties, Pepper X.

In this episode, Marc speaks with Ed Currie, founder and president of the Pucker Butt Pepper Company. Ed shares his journey from learning about plants from his mother to becoming an innovator in the pepper farming industry. During the discussion, Ed reveals insights into his sustainable farming practices, the scientific methods he uses to create super hot peppers, and his record-breaking pepper, Pepper X.

He also touches on the health benefits of capsaicin, the impact of hurricanes on his farm, and the growth of hot sauce popularity in the U.S. Ed's personal stories, including the adoption of his children and living in a Frank Lloyd Wright home, add a heartfelt dimension to the conversation. The episode concludes with Ed's vision for the future of his company in advancing medical research.

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Episode Links:
Ed Currie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edcurrie1/
Pucker Butt Pepper Company: https://puckerbuttpeppercompany.com/

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