N.M Chile Crop Up After 40 Year Low

From koat.com - Experts say the size of New Mexico's chile crop increased in 2011 after dwindling to nearly 40-year low the year before.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture preliminary figures showed some 9,500 chile acres were harvested last year. That's around a 9 percent increase from 2010. Officials with the New Mexico Chile Association presented the figures Tuesday at an annual chile conference taking place in Las Cruces. Dino Cervantes, president of the group, said strong demand from chile processors, who drive acreage numbers through their contracts with farmers, is likely the main factor behind the increase. Federal numbers also showed that the value of the crop inched upward, from $41.6 million in 2010 to $46.7 million in 2011. 

N.M Chile Crop Up After 40 Year Low