Pueblo chile prices could be going up to start the season

Growers call the green chile an icon in Pueblo.

Farmers in Pueblo County are starting to pick the peppers for chile season.

Some chile growers say the price of a bushel of chile could be going up. One of the reasons is Mother Nature.

Milberger Farms owner Shane Milberger said the weather put a delay on the chile season.

“We had quite a bit of water early. It did hurt the plants some, it hurt the germination, it hurt them from coming out the ground and it kept them in the ground for a while,” Milberger said.

He said the combination of bad weather and inflation, which includes labor, bags and gas, could cause the cost of his chiles to go up.

“Sometimes it’s hard for us to pass that along. This year, we are hoping we can pass that along this year with a five dollar increase on a roasted bushel of chile,” he said.

Despite the increase, Pueblo resident Royce Cappis said the chiles are priceless.

“Everything I do is green chile. Green chile is right up there on the top of my list. If I could, I would have it for every other meal,” he said.

Milberger said green chiles are set to be in the supermarkets by Wednesday morning.