US (NM): Rainy weather delays red chili harvest
"It's been so wet," said Garfield-area farmer Dickie Ogaz. "We haven't been able to get through harvesting."
At issue is that muddy fields keep farm workers and harvesting machinery from moving through the fields. While the ground may dry out for a while, storms have been frequent enough to re-soak it periodically.
Red chili, grown on the same plants as green chili, matures in the fall as temperatures begin to drop. Farmers said red peppers can remain on the dried plant for weeks or months after the first freeze. Rain doesn't initially damage the peppers, but after an extended amount of time, exposure to the elements can degrade the quality, they said.
In 2015, some 7,700 acres of red chili, including paprika and long hot/mild, were harvested in New Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's most-recent numbers. The crop was valued at $11.2 million, accounting for more than a quarter of the total chili sales in the state.
Randy Garay, who grows chili in Arrey, said warmer than usually fall temperatures led to more production of both green chili and red chili. He estimated there were extra two weeks of growth beyond a typical season.
source: lcsun-news.com