International Connoisseurs of Green and Red Chile (ICGRC) was an American organization created to promote the enjoyment of chili peppers. ICGRC was founded in Mesilla, New Mexico in 1973 and grew to have chapters throughout the United States and in 17 other countries. ICGRC provided information about how to grow chili peppers and how to use them in recipes. The organization was taken over by the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1989.

About

The organization published a quarterly magazine called Chile Connoisseur News.[1] There were several chapters of the group and each chapter was headed by a Pod Father.[2] The president of the organization was known as the "Queso Grande" or "Big Cheese."[3] The chapters also had humorous names that often played on puns and gave out awards to members who were known as "Pod Fellows" or "Fellows of the Pod."[2][4] Members shared recipes, chili pepper seeds and propagation information.[5] There were four membership levels starting at the "Order of the Complete Coward" and culminating at the "Order of the Steel Stomach."[6]

History

ICGRC was founded in Mesilla, New Mexico by 25 charter members who met at La Posta in 1973.[4][1] The organization was affiliated with New Mexico State University (NMSU).[4] ICGRC was originally headquartered in Mesilla.[5] NMSU had been receiving numerous requests from alumni for "chile care packages."[7] The founding members felt that promoting information about chili peppers would be a good way to help individuals who missed the spicy food.[7]

By 1976, there were several chapters, or pods, of ICGRC including in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Denver, El Paso, Texas, Logan, Utah, and Washington, D.C.[4] In addition, ICGRC had around 3,000 members by 1976.[8] The Phoenix, Arizona chapter was started in 1978.[9] Seventeen different countries had chapters as well by 1980.[9] There was a Taos, New Mexico chapter by 1980.[10]

ICGRC received the El Conquistador Award from the New Mexico chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in 1977.[11] In 1989, the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau took over the organization.[2]

Notable members

References

  1. 1 2 Stern, Jane; Stern, Michael (1993). Way Out West. New York: HarperCollins. pp. 322. ISBN 9780060925604. way out west.
  2. 1 2 3 Andrews, Jean (1995). Peppers: The Domesticated Capsicums. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780292704671.
  3. ↑ "Chili Fiesta Scheduled Friday at Las Cruces". Albuquerque Journal. 12 February 1975. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Funkhouser, Barbara (25 January 1976). "Chile Connoisseurs Spread the Word with Humor". El Paso Times. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Connoisseurs Make Valley Chile Famous". Las Cruces Sun-News. 28 June 1974. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "The Open 'Pearly' Gates (To Chile Heaven)". Las Cruces Sun-News. 11 August 1977. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Kilcrease, Della (11 August 1977). "Last of the Red Hot Lovers? No Such Thing..." Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Chile Group Gets Hot With Time". Las Cruces Sun-News. 25 January 1976. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Polson, Dorothee (9 April 1980). "Some Like It Hot". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Chile Lovers Tap Three Members". The Taos News. 8 May 1980. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Chili Group to Receive P-R Award". Alamogordo Daily News. 21 October 1977. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Page, Jake (16 August 1987). "Taste Bud Burnout". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 29 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.


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