Jim Duffy helps kids at youth centers in San Diego. He comments on his website: “As far as I know, I am the only person growing the world’s three hottest chiles in an NFT Hydroponic System. My vision is to expand the business, find more restaurants, and market my salsa, which will facilitate more activities with the youth in East County, San Diego. NFT stands for “Nutrient Film Technique.” The plants are sitting in tubes or trays. The roots of the plants touch the bottom of these tubes. A thin stream of film composed of water and nutrients passes by the roots giving them continuous feeding. Also, this stream of water carries with it an oxygen flow because any continuous movement in a direction moves the air and with it, oxygen. The oxygen invigorates the root system in the tube, causing more growth.”
Jim sells ‘Bhut Jolokias’, ‘Red Savinas’, and ‘Chocolate Habaneros’ to feed kids at the youth centers and to send them to sporting events like San Diego State University football games. To buy fresh chiles from him, call him at 619-504-9777; his website, Refining Fire Chiles is here. Below is a shot of a partial harvest.