The VOLUME Ill. NUMBER 3 SUMMER, 1994

Chle Institute i I

Plans for ICC Released

I Capsicums. The Chile Institute was founded to bring

1 The Intermtionel Center

together such people, and the International Center for for Chile Chile is the next step: a permanent facility to house all

e Mission Statement of The Chile Institute of our collected knowledge on the subjec- gives as one of its goals: "To build an interna- The two main objectives of the ICC are education tional center for public education about chiles." T" and research. For education purposes, we will have

me International Center for Chile (ICC) will be exhibits on the history, botan$ horticulture, medical

a facility. It will bring together, in one location, as benefits, and cuhary uses of chiles. Additionally much knowledge about the Capsicums as we can col- our archives will contain tens of thousands of books, lect. Its mandates will be research, education, and articles, and journals concerning Capsicums-by far entertainment. The International Center for Chile the largest such collection in the world. The ICC will will be a combination museum and botanical garden " - A also sponsor ongoing research into subjects vital to ='El for family education and entertainment, an archive, the future of Capsicums: plant diseases, new culti- '

and a research facility. vars, and the medicinal properties of Capsicums.

Why Do We Need It? Supporting the $2.5 billion fiery foods industry is a

far-flung group of researchers, writers, businessmen,

Description of the Facility The total size of the ICC facility will be approxi-

mately 12,000 net square feet. For the first phase of ' 11,

educators, and scientists who are devoted to Continued on page 2' I

ICC Plans, continuedfrom page 1.

design and construction, the fol- lowing units will be part of the ICC. The second phase could include a theatre/auditorium, a children's museum, and a germ plasm storage facility.

Hmticulture Unit A large part of the ICC is devot-

ed to growing chiles. This unit will consist of an outside dernon- stration garden and an atrium greenhouse to grow hundreds of varieties of Capsicums year- round. The demonstration garden will be outdoors at the rotunda entrance of the ICC. The atrium greenhouse will be a walk- through facility designed to show a wide variety of international Capsicums as perennials. The atrium will have exhibits of chiles p w n under a variety of condi- tions, including artificial light and hydroponics. Unit size (atrium greenhouse only): 2500 square feet. The outside garden will be 2300 square feet,

Exhibits Unit The visitor will be greeted by

the introductory rotunda exhibit (500 square feet).This unit will feature both permanent exhibits

T r a c i n g the history of Capsicums, i Itheir spread around the world, 1 and the horticultural industries

they have created, and changing I*, shows by guest curators that

focus on specific uses of chiles in food, science, medicine, and

- industry. The displays will utilize , available technology be more

interactive than static, and appeal L - to people of all ages. Unit size: , ,- 2000 square feet. -

Archive Unit A library/archive will be the

repository for all information col- lected about Capsicums. In addi- tion to maintaining The Chile Institute bibliographies, the Archive Unit will collect and house books and articles pub- lished on Capsicums and convert many of them for electronic retrieval. The unit will also house a large library of books on food and cooking-with a focus on Capsicums, spices, and interna- tional cookery. We envision a unit that will include computers equipped with CD ROW. This unit will also have a study area and a conference room. The Archve will be electronically available to the 20 million users of the Internet. Unit size: 3000 square feet.

Mmdo/Cafe Unit A mercado, or gift shop, will

oifer for sale chile-related prod- ucts, including fresh and dry chiles, gifts, seeds, books, cloth- ing, and manufactured foods such as hot sauces and salsas. A cafe, serving hot and spicy foods from around the world, will also be part of this unit. The kitchen will also have portable seating and will double as a demonstration kitchen. Unit size, including kitchen: 3350 square feet.

Ofices and Storage It will be necessary to include

offices and storage. Unit Size: 1400 square feet.

The Chile Institute Newsletter Executive Secretary: Dave DeWitt Bdf~or: Dave DeWltt otece support: Kam Ortega Art Dlrectm Lois Bergthold

The Chile Institute Board of Direatom The Chile Institute Gene Baca, Bueno Poods, A l b u q u w NM Box 30003, Dept 3(;2 NMSU, Las C-, NM 880(1j Louis Blad, Las Cntces, NM (505) 646Xm Paul W. Bcsknd, NMSU, Les Cxucea, NM A Non-Profit Intematlonal OlganizatbnDevowd to Ule Study d Jean *antes, Cervantes ~& 'PW vdo,

Dave DeYlRn, Chik J%ppr ma@&?, Albuquerque, NM &. 1 Z E D * . WW. w Jams Pepson, Old El Papo Poods, Anthay TX

Build the KC! n addition to its stated goals of I education and research, the ICC will also be a major attrac-

tion, drawing tens-if not hun- dreds-of thousands of visitors per year. In fact, our projections show the ICC will probably be able to support itself on a yearly basis from admissions and retail sales-provided we can build it!

The estimated cost of the facility is $2.5 million. The Chile Institute is seeking donations from individ- uals to support the construction of the ICC. We will gladly accept any amount of money, but individuals or companies donating at least $100 to the ICC Building Fund will be inducted into the Chile Institute "Hall of Flame" and will receive a certificate. The names will also be inscribed on a plaque in the ICC building. You do not have to be a member of the Institute to donate to the building fund; membership fees are in addition to your donation.

The Chile Institute is also solic- iting large donations from major companies. Please contact Dave DeWitt for corporate donation information, (505) 873-2187.

Please send your donation to The Chile Institute, Box 30003, Dept. 3Q, NMSU, Las Cruces, NM 88003. Please make checks out to 'NMSU Foundation/Chile Institute/Buildmg Fund. We will give regular updates in our Chile Institute Newsletter regarding progress on the building fund drive. For a complete brochure of the facility, please write to the above address.

C I -7 - -- IW

MartinStetrunaM, Border F d , Deming, NM JavierVargasLasCmm,NM

New Medco State University ex ofado Directors: Dr. John Owens, Dean, College of Agriculture and Home Eemomt'x I Dr. LeRoy Daugherry, Chairman, Dept of Agronomy and Horticulture DL Cmnhgbm D&ectos, Agdcultural Wmt Static41 I

Dr. Pepper Pepper Doctor I

ti- i , .---

I by Susan Hazen-fimmrrml

-s practically any A chilehead knows, chile peppers have.

been credited with being able to cure, or at least counteract, hundreds of human ailments, from night blindness to high cholesterol. But what hap- pens when chile peppers themselves need curing?

Enter Texas A&M University's Benigno Villalon, better known as Dr. Pepper. Since 1971 the plant pathologist has been researching ways to protect domesticated Capsicums &om their most ardent devourers (after human beings): viruses, fungi, and insects.

"There are maybe fifty major viruses and fungi that impact peppers worldwide," Villalon told me the other day when I called him at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Weslaco. Villalon has concentrated on some of those that impact peppers most: organisms with names like tobacco etch, pepper mottle, i cucumber mosaic, and chile wilt.

The earlier in the plant's devel- opment the ailment strikes, the Dr. Ben Villalm in the Greenhouse at Weslam, Texas worse the damage, said Villalon. 'Take cucumber mosaic," he said. cles as "terminal necrosis." ViMon peppers that are naturally resis- 'This virus can devastate a pepper has seen forty-acre fields hit so tant. crop if it hits early when the plant badly by the disease that instead of One of his most important pro- is about forty to fifty days old. yielding fifteen tons per acre, jects is the anti-phytophthora Lots of fruits drop. Those that they've yielded only two tons. breeding program, supported by

6 don't drop may be marred by To fight cucumber mosaic and the New Mexico Chile ugly streaks, or they may not other pepper diseases, V i i o n Commission. The goal is to grow properly." Or, the plant turns not to Chemicals, but to improve resistance to this chile itself may simply die, a state genetics. Like a latterday Charles known euphemistically in ag cir- Darwin, he looks for strains of Continued on next page.

F: I. - - . %

Pepper Doctor, continuedjhm previous Page. wilt. Over the years this frustrat- ing disease has caused pepper farmers millions of dollars in loss- es, and noted New Mexico grow- er Emma Jean Cervantes has called it "the AIDS of chiles." Caused by a fungus that lives in the soil and thrives on moisture, chile wilt attacks the roots of the plant, and the plant ages prema- turely. Immature pods stop grow- ing and turn red. No new fruits develop, and the leaves change to a burnt orange color, as if an early frost had hit. The disease is par- ticularly devastating in areas like Mexico and New Mexico, where the growing season coincides with the summer rainy season. There is no known cure.

In order to find and develop strains of peppers that display a

Phytophthora Damge in Lower End of Chile Pepper Field

Post-Harvest Shipping and Handling of Peppers: A Brief Guide by Dave Dewiff, Executive Secreta y

M ost common fresh chiles are now available temperature for dried chiles, and 45-50 degrees F. year-round, including Fresno, habanera, for bells. All fresh peppers are likely to su€fer injury New Mexican (from California, where they due to even one light freezing, and they can also

are called Anaheim, and Mexico), jalapdo, serrano, suffer damage if chilled below the recommended and yellow hots. Dried chiles are available all year temperature. Cooling them to temperatures below long except for ristras, which are available from 40 degrees F. can result in softening, pitting, and New Mexico in October and November. Major sup- decay. plying states are New Mexico, California, Texas, and The relative humidity should be maintained at 60 Arizona. Habaneros are now grown in California, to 70 percent for fresh chiles and 85 to 90 percent for Texas, and Florida. bells. Some stores use a light sprinking of water

Bells are produced mostly in Florida and over bells to extend shelf life. California, with The shelf life is major supplies 14 to 21 days for also coming from fresh chiles, 2 New Jersey years for dried North Carolina, chiles, and 8 to and Texas. 10 days for bells-

The seasons are -although some staggered, with sources say that Florida harvest- time can be ing November to extended to 12 July ZInd to 18 days. California har- Never ship or vesting May store any type of through pepper with December. pineapples Mexico harvests because the year-round, with pineapples will a peak of January absorb the odor through May. of the peppers. Bell peppers have Likewise, never the grades of U.S. ship or store any Fancy, U.S. No. 1, Hamesting Chiles, Mesilla Valley, N m Mexico peppers with eth- and U.S. No. 2 ylene producers There are no official federal grade standards for such as apples, bananas, peaches, or tomatoes. chiles. Ethylene can cause premature ripening of peppers.

Many different containers are used for shipping In fact, a combination of ethylene and high tempera- chiles and bells. Jalapeiios and yellow wax are usu- tures can increase the ripening rate by a factor of ally shipped in one-half and five-ninths bushel car- twenty. tons and crates. Bells are often shipped in 28-pound Sowces: bushel cartons and crates. Thirty-pound cartons or North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service, crates are used for Mexican bells, while ll-pound "Postharvest Cooling and Handling of Peppers"; flat cartons carry bells from the Netherlands. 1993 Produce Guide; Packing and Handling Produce

Recommended temperatures for shipping and Smetmces Sourcebook '93. storage are 38-44 degrees I?. for fresh chiles, room w

C A P S I C U M N E W S Jean Andrewsl Pepper Book

s w g w * u l i a y c = s d e d : Balanceofchiles . from newspaper reports of sus- . Deficit Drops! . pects who had died after being - - - .

Published sprayed, rw&irchers were able to . For the first h e since 1988, . obtain autopsy reports on twenty- : when we began tracking chile

Jean Andrew% Chile InstitUte : two of the C-S. They submitted : hpoports and exports, the Me member and one of the more

• the Dr. deficit has been reduced. It was prominent pepper professor of f0~IlSk sdence at the : the of decreased 1993 had her new book, Red Hof . . University of Texas southwestern : imports and exports P w ~ , published by h 4 a m

• Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. which caused the drop of 10.9 Publishing Co. book covers Petty determined that the pepper : percent. me 1993 deficit was the food aspect of peppers, a sub- : Spray Was not a factor in any of w . 9 million while 1992's was ject that was only touched on the deaths. Most of the deaths • . $51.5 million. These figures corn- . lightly in her lrighly acclaimed occurred from 'positional asphyx- : pa= to relatively low 1988 Peppers: The Domesticated .

• ia," meaning that officers deficit of $12.4 million. Here's C ~ s i m m s In the SUne scholarly : restrained the suspects in a man- : how the 1993 figures shaped up, tone, the new book gives a history ner than cut off their breathing. : figures from the U.S. of their discovery by CMstopher : For example, suspects who Departments of Agriculture rnd . ~olumbus and their subsequent : "hog-tied1'-lying face-down with Commerce. AU Capsicums are movement from their new world handcuffs and leg shackles con- : counted, including mostly non- . homeland, along with their role in nected-sometimes sdocate if pmgent pap& and ole- . cuisine and their effects on the : their bellies are pushed into their . oresins. foods of the lands to which they chest cavities. • - traveled. Red Hot Peppm, ISBN O- 02-502251-2, is available from local booksellers for $25.00.

"Safed1: IACP Pepper Spray llDeadlylk ACLU

A recent study conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police has concluded that capsicum pepper spray is an effective weapon that does not kill suspects. The American Civil Liberties Union begs to differ.

. . But the ACLU in Los Angeles : insists that the spray, which can

interfere with breathing, is a fac- . tor in the deaths. Alan Parachini,

: director of public affairs for the ACLU, urged the Los Angeles . Police Department to curtail its . use of pepper spray.

It is evident, though, that police . officers must have means to sub- . due violent suspects. And given the recent bad publicity over : police use of batons, nightsticks,

: and chemical mace, perhaps the pepper spray is the least danger- . ous of the control methods.

: ?I think it's definitely a good . . tool in law enforcement,'' said .

: John Granfield, who supervised f the IACP study. "There's a lot less

need with pepper spray to have . the physical kind of confrontation . . that causes injuries." .

w

: Imports : New Mexican (Anaheim)

...... and Ancho.. ..$3,437,000 . ................... Other 27,691,500 . ............. Ground.. ..7,089,!500 . .................. Paprika 6,711,300 i Paprika . . . Oleoresin.. ......... .10,469,000 . . Total ..................... 55,398,300 . . . . Exports. ................ .9,478,000

................ : Deficit $45,920,300 .

= Publications Available from The Chile Institute

Mticles and bodd on * -

and culinary arts of Cqxkum,

W e t , $9.50 postpaid. been updated by the inclusion availabie On 35imh of 350 more citations. It now 5,25-inch diskette, or hard copy contains about 5,400 technical for $20 postpaid. Chile: Preprath an$ citations in thirteen categories

booklet, $2.00 postpaid.

tion, and disorders. It is avail- cations or slides should i n d i

Natkm~I Pepper Conkmce, Aug. 1994, L~TS truces, NM, hwd im.meI and send cop% $15.00 postpaid.

bouklet, $1,525 postpaid.

than I, I00 citations primarjly

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Here are Tho More Interesting Peppers fromyour Editor's Garden:

1. C. chinense 'Trinidad Seasoning Pepper.' Seed collected by Dave DeWitt.

2. C. annum 'Douglas Chiltepin' Seed provided by Jim Raney.