2003 New Mexico Chile Conference

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New Mexico State University's 10th annual Chile Conference Feb. 4 in Las Cruces promises an agenda full of hot topics. Anna María Pérez-Wright has a preview.

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Agroterrorism will be one of the centerpieces of the 2003 New Mexico Chile Conference February 4th at the Las Cruces Hilton. New Mexico State University chile breeder and conference co-chairman Paul Bosland says that while not a primary target, chile pepper production is still part of the nation's food processing system and shares the risk of potential attack.

"We hear a lot about it in the news, especially now with the homeland security. How does that fit into the overall plan of agriculture?"

Sponsored by N-M-S-U's Chile Pepper Institute, the one-day program brings together some of the hottest names in the world of peppers, including more than 350 chile growers, processors and researchers from around the world. Attractions include more than 25 supplier and manufacturer booths, in addition to scientific presentations.

"The program will cover all aspects of chile growing, processing, uses. We'll be talking about diseases and pests, weed control, new cultivars and, of course, a big part of the conference will about mechanical harvesting."

This year's event will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of N-M-S-U's Chile Pepper Institute, a self-supporting research facility at the university dedicated to chile pepper science. Bosland says that prior to January 31st the cost for the conference is 75 dollars. After that it's 95 dollars. For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.