New Mexico Chile Production

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
PO BOX 1809,
LAS CRUCES, NM 88004
1-800-530-8810
e-mail: [email protected]
www.nass.usda.gov/nm

MSC 5600, PO BOX 30005,
LAS CRUCES, NM 88003-8005
(575) 646-4929
e-mail: [email protected]
www.nmda.nmsu.edu

2015 NEW MEXICO CHILE PRODUCTION
Planted chile acreage in 2015 increased 2.5 percent to 8,300, with 7,700 acres, or 93 percent
of the acres harvested. Production in 2015 was 66,700 tons compared to 58,700 tons the
previous year. Eighty-four percent of the crop was sold for processing, with 16 percent of
the crop sold as fresh market.
Paprika harvested acreage increased from 3,100 acres in 2014 to 3,200 acres in 2015, while
Long Hot Green harvested acres increased from 1,200 acres in 2014 to 2,000 acres in 2015.
Long Mild Green harvested acres decreased from 2,600 acres in 2014 to 2,100 acres in
2015.
At the state level, yields were higher in 2015 for Long Green varieties. Long Mild Green
yields were 16.1 tons per acre and Long Hot Green yields were 13.3 tons per acre. Paprika
yield dropped to 1.3 tons per acre compared to 1.4 tons per acre a year earlier. Long Red
yields remained at 1.4 tons per acre.
The value of New Mexico chile production in 2015 was estimated at $41.1 million,
compared to $38.7 million in 2014. Chile for processing were valued at $33.6 million,
while the fresh chile value of production was $7.5 million.

2015 Chile: Acreage and Production by County
Planted Acreage

Harvested Acreage

Production (Tons)

2013

2014

2015

2013

2014

2015

2013

2014

2015

Luna

2,500

2,300

2,500

2,500

2,200

2,200

25,540

23,600

31,500

Doña Ana

2,400

2,000

2,100

2,100

1,900

1,900

20,250

20,700

22,000

Other Counties

4,100

3,800

3,700

4,000

3,600

3,600

19,210

14,400

13,200

9,000

8,100

8,300

8,600

7,700

7,700

65,000

58,700

66,700

STATE

Chile Acreage, Yield, Production & Value by Variety
Variety

Acreage
Harvested

Green
Long Mild
Long Hot
Red
Paprika
Long Hot/Mild
Total

Yield Per
Acre3/

Production

Average Price
Per Ton

Value of
Production

20141/

20152/

2014
2015
2014
2015
---------------Tons---------------

2014
2015
----Dollars----

2014
2015
-----$1,000-----

2,600
1,200

2,100
2,000

15.2
10.6

16.1
13.3

39,500
12,700

33,900
26,600

509
511

487
501

20,100
6,495

16,515
13,335

3,100
1,600

3,200
1,600

1.4
1.4

1.3
1.4

4,200
2,300

4,000
2,200

1,857
1,870

1,805
1,827

7,800
4,300

7,220
4,020

7,700

7,700

7.6

8.7

58,700

66,700

659

616

38,695

41,090

1/

800 acres were harvested for both green and red, but only counted once in the total.
1,200 acres were harvested for both green and red, but only counted once in the total.
3/
Yields influenced by lower yielding acreage harvested for both green and red.
2/

Chiles, Fresh and Processed Production & Value
Acreage
Harvested

Fresh
Production

Processed
Production

Value of Fresh
Production

----------Tons----------

Value of Processed
Production

----------$1,000----------

1/

2014

7,700

9,000

49,700

6,390

32,305

20152/

7,700

10,700

56,000

7,490

33,600

2/

800 acres were harvested for both green and red, but only counted once in the total.
1,200 acres were harvested for both green and red, but only counted once in the total.

New Mexico Chile Production

100
90
80

Tons (Thousands)

1/

70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015