NMSU employs more than 25 people dedicated to chile research, from breeding and genetic ancestry, to the study of diseases, weeds and insects. Other studies consider nutritional values of chile, how to retain red color in chiles being transported to Europe, and using a holistic approach to weed and pest control. Growers are able to grow more expensive varieties and spend less time thinning the crop by using transplants, he said. New Mexico growers also are processing their chile further to increase their crop value by almost 700 percent, Bosland said. For instance, instead of sending raw cayenne peppers to Louisiana for mashing to make hot sauce, some growers are taking their crop one step further by processing the cayenne mash here.
Housing is a higher-value crop.
And as more homes are built, agricultural acreage is lost.