With plantings on the decline and fewer farmworkers available, two mechanical harvesters are being tested on the chile pepper crop in New Mexico, says the Associated Press. Chile is the state vegetable, status that reflects its significance to the state’s agricultural and culinary heritage. But plantings have fallen to a 43-year low. “Experts say the state is losing chile acreage to West Texas and Mexico, partly because of the cost and availability of labor,” says the AP. “The delicate chiles are now picked by hand, and problems with bruising and the removal of stems have made it difficult to make the transition to machines.” An Israeli inventor is testing his harvester and a device from a New Hampshire investor also is on trial. New Mexico State University also has worked in recent years on a chile harvester.