North Macedonia

North Macedonia is famous across the Balkans for its distinctive pepper crops, with over 9,730 hectares harvested for green peppers in 2022, largely in southern and eastern valleys.

Red peppers are especially prized for ajvar, a hallmark export and culinary staple. The sector is highly export-oriented, with both small-scale farms and commercial processors serving European markets. Despite challenges such as quality consistency and logistics, Macedonia integrates open-field production with greenhouse tunnels to extend harvests and support household incomes.