Danise Coon, research specialist and research coordinator at New Mexico State University, holds up a chile pepper during the 2021 field day at the Fabián García Science Center in Las Cruces. The center will host its 2024 field day Oct. 9. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
Source: NMSU News Release
DATE: Sept. 30, 2024
WRITER: Adriana M. Chávez, 575-646-1957, adchavez@nmsu.edu
While New Mexico State University’s Fabián García Science Center in Las Cruces is small compared to its sister centers throughout the state, it certainly packs a punch.
The center will host its annual field day Oct. 9, featuring the latest in research on chile and other crops, and the new home of NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute, which will be open during the field day.
The field day will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. at the center, 113 University Ave. in Las Cruces. Attendees are asked to park at 500 W. College Ave. Along with several research presentations, participants can view poster presentations and sample food by students with the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management.
“I believe attendees of our field day will gain an intimate understanding of the wide breadth of research our faculty are pursuing,” said Dave Lowry, program operation director for the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station. “Some of our newest projects range from looking into plant species with medicinal properties for a wide range of ailments, to delving into aquaponics with a value-added emphasis. Couple those with current and ongoing trials of chile pepper breeding, viticulture and wine making, teaching garden demonstrations, disease resistance in chile pepper and utilizing guar as an alternative crop, and I believe stakeholders will see how we are always making an effort to expand our research portfolio.”
Lowry said the center has several ongoing, multifaceted projects in areas including water, soil and economics, just to name a few.
“These, of course, are only a fraction of the projects housed at our Fabián García Science Center, but there aren’t enough hours in the day to look at them all,” Lowry said.
Lowry said he also hopes attendees visit the Chile Pepper Institute’s new home, where they can receive information about chile peppers, especially New Mexico pod types, or shop at its retail store, which sells more than 100 different varieties of chile pepper seeds as well as books, art, jewelry, hot sauces and other items. All proceeds benefit chile pepper research and education at NMSU.
“This is very fitting since our namesake, Fabián García, was integral in inception and expansion of chile research and the chile industry in New Mexico,” Lowry said.
Individuals with a disability who are in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate may contact Autumn Martinez at 575-636-3132 or purple@nmsu.edu.
For more information about the Fabián García Science Center, visit https://fabiangarciasc.nmsu.edu/index.html.
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