About The Chile Pepper Institute and NuMex Peppers

Co-founded by Dr. Paul W. Bosland in 1992, The Chile Pepper Institute is the only international, non-profit organization devoted to education and research related to Capsicum or chile peppers. Dr. Paul W. Bosland, Regents professor of horticulture, is popularly known as the “Chileman.” He leads the chile breeding and genetics research program at New Mexico State University. Dr. Bosland is recognized internationally as one of the foremost experts on Capsicum.

The Institute is located on the New Mexico State University campus, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA. New Mexico State University has the longest continuous program of chile pepper improvement in the world. The chile pepper improvement program began in 1888 with Fabian Garcia. All New Mexican type chile peppers grown today gained their genetic base from cultivars first developed at New Mexico State University.

This was simply a place I had to check out for myself, so I made my trek to Las Cruces, New Mexico. The natural landscapes surrounding Las Cruces are beautiful. There is so much to explore in this area, from White Sands to the Hatch Chile Festival. For this chile lover, this trip was one I’ll never forget.

We first drove into Las Cruces and noticed National Park signs, so we decided to check it out. Organ Mountain National Recreation Area a gorgeous desert area great for hiking, having a picnic or simply enjoying the scenery.

The New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located in Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 265. All proceeds from Chile Pepper Institute sales go to funding student research and employment, and the $1M Endowed Chile Pepper Research Chair campaign. (NMSU photo by Melissa Rutter) MAY18

After checking into our hotel, we headed to the Chile Pepper Institute Visitor Center & Gift Shop located on campus in Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 265. This is the place to get information on tours of their Chile Pepper Learning Garden, purchase chile pepper books, pepper seeds, shirts, and sauces. Here I chatted with the Institute’s Program Specialist and he offered to give us a personal guided tour of the Learning Garden the next morning.

The Chile Pepper Institute Learning Garden is located right by the Fabian Garcia Botanical Gardens and Gazebo. The Fabian Garcia Botanical Gardens are open to the public Monday – Sunday, from sunrise to sunset. 140 W University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005.

Some updates have been made since our visit. The learning garden is now named The Amy Goldman Fowler Chile Pepper Institute Teaching Garden. Below is a virtual tour of the gardens.

About NuMex Peppers:  Nearly all pepper varieties from The Chili Pepper Institute bear the NuMex name. It signifies that this is a chili hybrid created at New Mexico State University. The University is continually trying to create beautiful tasty peppers that are more productive and disease resistant to things such as bacterial leaf spot disease, Root-Knot Nematode, Tobacco Etch Virus, Beet Curly Top Virus and more.

Here’s some photos from my visit to the Learning Garden.