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From his unassuming farm in southeast Arizona Ed Curry has amassed one of the largest germ plasm collections of capsicum species in the world. His breeding and production of chile peppers is well known and is why he was set to host the International Pepper Conference earlier this year before a pandemic shut down events globally.
Curry's involvement in the chile pepper industry and his invitation to host a portion of the international event at his farm in Pearce, Ariz. led him to receive and grow about 100 different chile varieties in demonstration plots. These plots were the subject of a day-long event in late September to film some of the Curry's work, and to highlight the connection he has with Land Grant universities in his home state and the neighboring state of New Mexico.
The New Mexico Connection
Curry says his work in Arizona is at the epicenter of the long green chile pod type that is part of New Mexico's trademarked program. He also breeds other chiles that range in color, size, and pungency. The later is the term for the heat that is commonly measured in Scoville heat units. The hotter the chile, the higher the Scoville number.
Curry works closely with Stephanie Walker, Extension vegetable specialist with New Mexico State University (NMSU).
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