We plant peppers in wide plots, on irrigated ground, and separate the plots with windbreaks. We use tall, headless forage sorghums as our windbreak crop. Brosch manages his chile crop much like his other grain or fiber crops. Regular field scouting tells him when to irrigate, fertilize or apply a spray to combat insects or plant disease. He uses a combination of methods to harvest his pepper crop.
Farm workers provide seasonal labor for hand-picking, and they also operate a mechanical picker.
Brosch is able to harvest some peppers, such as jalapenos, using a slightly modified cotton stripper. Brosch markets most of his pepper crop through direct contracts with buyers. This year, however, he and other area growers are trying a new method. We take the roaster to area festivals, and we roast the chiles and sell them direct to consumers. They can buy as much, or as little, as they want and take the peppers home in plastic bags.