[oldschool1982]

Not since I was a kid have I been able to find these peppers. Their name is Melrose.

They're similar to green bell peppers by color only since that's where the similarities end. I remember they have a thinner wall like a Pablano or Anaheim but a different flavor.

I also remember my family planting seeds from previous seasons as well as buying the plants from a Farm stand in Melrose Park IL but I know that's not the origin of the pepper.
This may explain the difficulty in locating them but I've heard stories that my dads family (and others as well) brought seeds with them when they made their way here from Calabria at the beginning of the 1900's.

I know one's memory can play tricks on you but these peppers were unbelievable in their taste raw as well as cooked. So my question is.......has anyone out there heard of this variety, what it's current name might be and where I can get them or at least the seeds?

[Just Jim]

Calabria has an annual Peperoncino festival, so that would be my guess.
My understanding is that there are a few varieties of Peperoncino, from sweet to hot.
Hope this helps.

[Dillbert]

gourmetseed.com/sweet_pepper_seed.0.html

a red one?

(PP14) PEPPER MELROSE ORGANIC

(70 days) As the story goes this ultra-sweet very rare Italian heirloom pepper was re-discovered in Melrose Park, Illinois just outside of Chicago having been brought over years before by an Italian family immigrating to the U.S., hence the name Melrose. Although pictured red here, we've been told that many use them in the green stage. We tried these peppers a couple of years ago from a local Chicago market and were amazed by their flavor as well as their beauty. 4" x 2" fruit are deep candy red when ripe, highly productive and sweet as candy to the taste. .5 gram approx 75 seeds - $3.69


other leads (sorry, me nasty bum, not allowed to post links.... add a few www's to the front end.....)

southernexposure.com/productlist/prods/46133.html

lakechicagoshores.wordpress.com/2007/08/05/charlie-browns-melrose-pepper/

[oldschool1982]

WOW! Never new that Melrose Park was actually named for the pepper.

Thanks for the link.

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by oldschool1982

I know one's memory can play tricks on you but these peppers were unbelievable in their taste raw as well as cooked. So my question is.......has anyone out there heard of this variety, what it's current name might be and where I can get them or at least the seeds?

They are delicious! Throw them in a pan with just a little olive oil and salt when finished. Such a nice sweet Italian pepper. I'm starting to wonder why we're not growing any this year at work...hmmm. I'll see if he still gets them.

dan