The Supposed New Mexico “Chile Crisis”
When the media get wind of a typical change in the ever-fluctuating world of economic agriculture, they just have to turn it into a crisis. Take the drop in harvested chile acreage over the last decade or so—down to 8,700 acres from a high of 29,000. Is this a “crisis” or merely a reflection of economic reality? I think the …
Pecans Now New Mexico’s Top Food Crop
Chiles had their moments of fame back in the 1980s and early ’90s when they were easily New Mexico’s number one food crop. But as the pecan groves expanded and the trees matured, pecans have steadily stolen the chiles’ thunder. These days, the pecan crop value is nearly double that of chile peppers. In 2007, New Mexico pecan growers were …
