SW New Mexico News

Nearly two dozen chile pepper experts will convene in Las Cruces for the 2025 New Mexico Chile Conference. The event, organized by New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute and Department of Extension Plant Sciences, is scheduled for February 3-4 at the New Mexico Farm and Heritage Museum.

Stephanie Walker, an Extension vegetable specialist at NMSU and co-chair of the conference, described it as "the premier annual event in the country that focuses solely on chile peppers, providing the latest research findings and production guidance for the state’s signature crop."

The conference will include a Monday evening reception featuring a presentation on the history of NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute by Danise Coon, a research specialist with longstanding ties to the institute since its inception in 1992. On Tuesday morning, attendees can expect a grower panel discussion titled “Envisioning the Future of New Mexico Chile,” followed by a keynote address from Michael Mazourek. Mazourek is known for his work at Cornell University on honeynut squashes and culinary breeding projects. He will share insights into chile breeding using evolutionary genomics.

Additional topics covered during presentations include guest labor programs, irrigation outlooks, robotics, pest and disease management, and genetics. Vendor booths will also be available throughout the conference.

Attendees can earn four continuing education general credits from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator program. Registration is open online until February 1 to avoid late fees. More information can be found at https://cpi.nmsu.edu or by calling 575-646-3028.