Hard Times for a Hot Commodity, the Prized New Mexico Chile
Years of drought, erratic weather and other stresses are taking their toll on the peppers that are central to the state’s economy and identity.
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Well that's going to suck. I typically roast abut 20# each year. As a matter of fact we are having guest over tomorrow night and the menu includes green chile made with Hatch peppers.
Ah, local news. I don't subscribe (lazy) but I can guess what it says. Every year the chili farmers whine (its a farmer thing I guess). And yet I've never seen a supply disruption or even a price increase. :shrug: As I recall (nm is my local news) last year it was standing water in the fields.
Chilies grow really good here at the house but I simply won't fight the deer anymore. And besides I don't like peeling them more than I like drinking beer and roasting them. Heres a couple of pics of my setup at the house. Those are from my garden. Wait until I start a tomato thread.:rolleyes:
That's a shifty looking character you hired to turn the crank...I hope he works cheap...:wary:...BenQuote:
Originally Posted by CactusCurt
Modification Number one---add electric motor and chain drive----at least that doesn't require beer to operate:smokin::pimpgrin:
A close inspection will show the electric motor and the giant azz pulley on the end of the drum. I took the ridiculously long belt off so I wouldn't fall into it and be maimed.:shrug: If I was going to go high tech and want it to be powered, I need to figure out how to slow things down even further. If it spins too fast it destroys the structure of the pepper and you get a mess of seeds and burnt skin with your roasted chilies.:doh:Experience.
Its really easy to turn that very slow and gently roll the peppers in the drum, with excellent results. As I am the King of Lazy, I can tell you this way is pretty ok.:hatoff: Beats dragging that 200 lb monster back to the shop for mods. This would be about 100 on my welding to-do list. Did I mention I'm lazy?
Back on topic, chilies are a little delicate to grow and crops fail easily. But don't you worry, them NM State Aggies are all over it and there is probably no chance they will go cavendish. I hope.:shrug:
I did see the disabled drive on the far end after posting my wisecrack---all you need is a variable speed motor :shrug: :hatoff:
I’m with you, I hate peeling the things.Quote:
Originally Posted by CactusCurt
Bring your tomato thread on!
Help is on the way. :usa:
https://the-journal.com/articles/163...mexico-village
In case it requires a subscription:
Quote:
In one southern New Mexico village, it’s like clockwork – the summer rains come and the floodwaters follow.
Federal officials said storm runoff regularly causes significant damage to residential, commercial and agricultural areas in and around the village of Hatch, a farming community along the Rio Grande that is known for growing New Mexico’s signature crop – green chile.
Millions of dollars in damage have been recorded over the years, and residents can’t help but remember the times when village streets were covered with as much as 3 feet of water.
Years of study and planning have resulted in a $12.7 million project officials said will protect Hatch from the seasonal deluges. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Doña Ana County Flood Commission will sign an agreement next week to move ahead with design and construction of an earthen dam in lower Spring Canyon.