Heritage NuMex Big Jim

As with Heritage New Mexico 6-4, the original seed for Heritage NuMex Big Jim was obtained from the National Seed Storage Lab to develop a more uniform, thick-walled chile with a consistent medium heat level. The New Mexico Chile Commission members made selections from 40 breeding lines of the original NuMex Big Jim, and six of the best-performing lines were chosen and re-tested. Selections were made based on the most important horticultural characteristics that were important to the New Mexico chile industry, including high yield, uniform heat level, improved fruit qualities, easy de-stemming, and traditional flavor. Heritage NuMex Big Jim has large, flattened, thick-walled mature green fruit with round shoulders. The heat level for Heritage NuMex Big Jim is between 500 and 1,000 SHU and is more uniform than the current NuMex Big Jim.