The Chile Pepper Institute

10/30/2026

🌶️ The Secret Behind Chile FLAVOR: You Won't Want to Miss This! 🌶️

Get ready, chile family—only TWO Chile Chats left in 2026, and November's is a treat for your taste buds!

Topic: Flavor Quality of Chile Peppers
🗓️ When: Wednesday, November 4, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM MST
📍 Where: Fabian Garcia Research Center Classroom, 113 W University Ave, Las Cruces, NM OR via Zoom, Meeting ID: 842 9079 5154
🔬 Featuring: Ph.D. Candidate Bunali Jagodage!

Ever wondered what really makes New Mexico chile taste amazing? Join us as Bunali Jagodage takes us deep into the science of flavor—exploring the compounds, genetics, and growing conditions that give New Mexico chile peppers their unforgettable taste!

🔥 Why you can't miss this:
✅ Discover the science behind flavor quality—beyond just heat!
✅ Learn how research is shaping better-tasting chiles for the future
✅ Ask ALL your chile flavor questions—Bunali will be answering live, in person AND online!

Whether you're a grower, processor, scientist, or devoted chilehead, this is your chance to level up your chile knowledge before the year wraps up!

💻 Join us in person or via Zoom—either way, bring your burning questions! 🎤
Mark your calendars NOW and let's savor the science of chile flavor together! 🌶️🌿

10/30/2026

🌼GET YOUR MARIGOLDS WHILE THEY LAST!!🌼
From now until we sell out- BOGO FREE!! 🎉
Most of the orange marigolds have been scooped up, but we still have plenty of yellow "Big Duck" full of blooms!
⚡They are going FAST- get yours now while supplies last!
📍The Chile Pepper Institute
113 W University Ave, Las Cruces, NM
🕓 Open Monday-Friday, 9AM-4PM

Tag a friend who needs more flowers in their life! 👇🌻

10/26/2026

Fall is in full swing over at The Chile Pepper Institute ! 🌶️ 🎃🌻
We've still got some beautiful marigolds up for grabs, but now we've added delicious basil plants and fragrant chocolate daisies to the mix too!
🌱That basil is all ready for your next culinary creation or your window herb garden.
🌼The chocolate daisies are all set to be planted so they can get settled in for next year's blooms!
🌶️The best part is that all the proceeds go toward supporting our student employees and the NMSU horticulture research programs! 😊

10/14/2026

🌻 BIG NEWS from the Chile Pepper Institute! 🌻

Guess what just arrived at our gift shop?! We've got gorgeous MARIGOLD plants for sale — and these stunners are ready for their forever homes! 💥

Our "Big Duck" and "Whopper" varieties are bursting with brilliant orange and yellow blooms, growing strong in one-gallon pots. Perfect for your yard, porch, or doorstep! 🏡✨

⏰ IMPORTANT: We won't have cut marigold blossoms this year — the summer heat got the best of our rotation crops (marigolds AND broccoli 🥲). So if you need marigolds for your Día de los Mu***os ofrenda, Laxmi Puja, Diwali, festival of lights, or Bhai Tika decor... grab a pot! You can enjoy the blooms now AND plant them later. Win-win! 🙌

📍 Find them at our gift shop — open 9am–4pm!
Fabian Garcia Research Center
113 W University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005

Come see us — these beauties won't last long! 🌼🧡💛

***os

10/12/2026

🌻BIG NEWS from the Chile Pepper Institute! 🌻

Guess what just arrived at our gift shop?! We've got gorgeous MARIGOLD plants for sale — and these stunners are ready for their forever homes! 💥

Our "Big Duck" and "Whopper" varieties are bursting with brilliant orange and yellow blooms, growing strong in one-gallon pots. Perfect for your yard, porch, or doorstep! 🏡✨

⏰ IMPORTANT: We won't have cut marigold blossoms this year — the summer heat got the best of our rotation crops (marigolds AND broccoli 🥲). So if you need marigolds for your Día de los Mu***os ofrenda, Laxmi Puja, Diwali, festival of lights, or Bhai Tika decor... grab a pot! You can enjoy the blooms now AND plant them later. Win-win! 🙌

📍 Find them at our gift shop — open 9am–4pm!
Fabian Garcia Research Center
113 W University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005

Come see us — these beauties won't last long! 🌼🧡💛

***os

10/03/2026

🌶️ A LEGEND RETURNS: Chasing the Wild Chile Pepper! 🌶️

We are pleased to announce our very own Dr. Paul "The Chile Man" Bosland will be presenting "Chasing the Wild Chile Pepper" for October's Chile Chat!

🗓️ When: Wednesday, October 7, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
📍 Where: Fabian Garcia Research Center Classroom, Las Cruces, NM OR via Zoom, Meeting ID: 842 9079 5154

Join us as the one-and-only Chile Man takes us on a thrilling journey chasing wild chile peppers across the globe—from remote deserts to hidden canyons, discover the wild origins of the chiles we know and love!

🔥 Why you can't miss this:
✅ Firsthand tales from the legendary co-founder of the Chile Pepper Institute
✅ Explore the wild genetics that shape tomorrow's chile varieties
✅ Ask the Chile Man ANYTHING—that's right, bring your burning chile questions!

Whether you're a grower, scientist, or certified chilehead, this is your chance to hear from a true living legend of the chile world!

🎤 LIVE Q&A: Dr. Bosland will be on hand—in person AND online—to answer all your chile questions. Don't be shy!

Mark your calendars NOW and join us for an unforgettable Chile Chat! 🌶️🌿

09/30/2026

🌶️ Chile friends... Please keep New Mexico chile farmers & residents in your thoughts! 🙏
Socorro County, Sierra County, and Doña Ana County are all receiving the much-needed rain, just a little too late and too much. Flood evacuations are currently active in the communities of Hatch Village, Rincon, Salem, and Garfield, where much of our beloved "Hatch Chile" is grown. 🫶

Hatch is now in GO mode.🚨 
 
- LEAVE NOW. Move away from low-lying areas, never drive through flooded roads. Turn Around Don’t Drown.  
 
Evacuation Shelters: 
Radium Springs Community Center 
📍12060 Lindbeck Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88007 
Doña Ana County Community Center 
📍5745 Ledesma Dr. Las Cruces, NM 88007 
 
You can find updates here and on our website at DonaAna.gov. 
 
*RINCON, SALEM AND GARFIELD ARE ALSO IN GO MODE.*

09/16/2026

Important information from the New Mexico Chile Association for growers, processors and consumers.

🌶️ 2026 New Mexico Chile Supply Update 🌶️

The New Mexico Chile Association is sharing an important update on this year’s chile harvest and current supply challenges.

We encourage industry partners to communicate with suppliers and plan ahead as availability remains limited.

Thank you for your continued support of New Mexico chile!

09/06/2026

The Chile Pepper Institute is at the Chile Capital of the world- Hatch, NM! At the Hatch Chile Festival we have met people from all over the country, educating them about the origins of "Hatch Chile", the Scoville Heat Scale, Ornamental chiles and everything in-between!