Part of NMSU, the Chile Pepper Institute works with the university's Chile Breeding and Genetics program to promote education and research into New Mexico's flagship food. The institute's office has informative displays (and a chile-themed gift shop), but the real reason to visit is to see the demonstration gardens, filled with a boggling variety of growing chile peppers. The best time to come is just before harvest – July or early August; call in advance to set up a garden tour.
