Mild habaneros developed by Oregon State University could be hot sellers this year.

Territorial Seed Company in Cottage Grove, Ore., is the only seed source and initial runs of packets for both “Mild Thing” and “Notta Hotta” sold out on the business website, territorialseed.com.

Jennifer Gerrity, product line and trials director for Territorial Seed Company, said the peppers are flavorful, unique and exciting.

“When you eat one, you have that muscle memory and you’re waiting for your face to burn off, but it never comes on,” Gerrity said.

Production of Mild Thing and Notta Hotta will be only a few hundred packets for various sizes this season, but will expand in the future.

Territorial also will sell mild habanero plant starts in 2026.

New products every year

Every year, Territorial releases 100 new products, including seeds and garden goods. Some new seeds are cutting edge varieties, while others are old heirlooms.

“Some of these projects take years behind the scenes,” Gerrity said.

Customers often are master gardener-level hobbyists and the company also produces seed and live plant material for small farms.

Territorial breeds seeds under certified organic conditions on its 75-acre main farm, selecting for flavor, vigor and purity of line.

Varieties must thrive in the Willamette Valley’s environment and short growing season without heavy inputs.

OSU plant breeder Jim Myers said he’s worked with Territorial before, including on purple tomatoes he developed. He was happy Territorial was selling seeds for the mild habaneros.

“It’s something that’s developed for our region, and they’re very much a regional company,” said Myers.

Growing fruit for salsa

Amber Lippert, owner of Camas Swale Farm in Coburg, Ore., is growing Mild Thing and Notta Hotta peppers for Hot Mama Salsa of Portland.

“We like to try new varieties,” Lippert said.

Seed was provided by Myers, her mentor in college.

The farm now has four types of heatless habaneros. Those include Roulette, with strong production and flavor but tricky harvest timing, and the bright yellow Trinidad Perfume, which tasted great and looked amazing, but brought poor yields.

She hoped the OSU developed peppers would bring local advantages since they were developed for the area.

“Jim’s stuff is always really good. He’s such a mad scientist,” Lippert said.

Camas Swale Farm grows about 35 different crop types on 15 acres. The organic operation has a subscription box program and also sells to grocery stores, restaurants and food hubs.

“Everything we harvest is pre-sold,” Lippert said.

Producing plant starts

Alice Doyle, owner of wholesale grower Log House Plants in Cottage Grove, Ore., purchased seed from Territorial and is producing mild habanero starts for independent garden store and nursery retailers.

“We’ll have plenty of 4-inch plants available for all of our customers,” Doyle said.

Log House Plants produces roughly 2,500 varieties per year for about 150 regular accounts. And every year brings new plants.

“Everyone that gardens is always wanting to experiment with new things,” she said.