By the end of the Chile Poblano season, 450 peasants from the community of San Rafael Tlanalapan harvest up 4,000 tons of the local chili, but due to torrential rains and the three hailstorms that have been registered in the area, only 50 percent will be picked by farmers to dehydrate, said Sixto Palomares Vargas, president of the Union of Producers.
He emphasized that July and August are the months when the peasants pick the chilis from the plots to market them in the local markets of Texmelucan and Huejotzingo. While others send them to the Puebla and Mexico plants, these are also the months where torrential rains, that sometimes include hailstorms that affect the harvests.
With respect to this year, three hailstorms were recorded in Cuautla, Ayotla, Chautla and in the town's urban area. These affected 50 percent of the plants, that is to say they are practically lost because the fruit spoiled and rotted, so that only 2 thousand tons will be collected that will serve to market it percent, which will range from 350 to 500 pesos according to the size or quality of the product.
Palomares Vargas said that fortunately the Chile Poblano National Fair that was held last weekend was successful, as they received 15 thousand visitors, 2 thousand chiles were marketed in nogada and a half ton was used to make mole poblano, as well Like 50 dishes that were made for this holiday, which will allow producers to recover part of what was lost from the spice that was damaged by the hailstorms.
He added that little by little chile poblano harvested in Tlanalapa, has managed find a place for itself in the taste buds of people from states like Hidalgo, Morelos, Mexico, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tlaxcala, which this year have purchased several kilos for home consumption, and others to market amongst family and friends, so more plots will be necessary to supply them next year.
