The present invention is concerned with oleoresins derived from Capsicum plants producing greater than about 0.4% zeaxanthin, by weight in the dried, ripe fruit pod flesh, wherein zeaxanthin is the dominant carotenoid in the dried ripe fruit pod flesh, when measured in non-esterified forms, which plants have been developed by commercially grown Capsicum cultivars by plant breeding techniques. The oleoresin and zeaxanthin derived from these Capsicum plants can be used in applications that include nutritional supplements, foods, functional foods, cosmetics, animal feeds, aquaculture feeds, and pharmaceuticals.