Anyone been to Pecos,Tx?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

CANTALOPE!!!!!!!! Pecos Cantalopes are THE BEST in the ENTIRE WORLD! Good golly, I want one NOW!

I was about to say the same. I have never been to Pacos, but certainly have eaten enough of their cantalopes.

Nita

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I was about to say the same. I have never been to Pacos, but certainly have eaten enough of their cantalopes.

Nita

It's become harder to find them as the farm land where they are grown has become contaminated by the salty brine pumped up from underground wells for irrigation. After some years of irrigation, the salt level in the topsoil won't support much of anything, no matter how much more salty water is poured on it. It's the local soil that gives the cantaloupe it's stronger flavors. (PS This is the same sort of irrigation problem that has rendered much of Dell City useless for farming today).

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by jaxart

It's become harder to find them as the farm land where they are grown has become contaminated by the salty brine pumped up from underground wells for irrigation. After some years of irrigation, the salt level in the topsoil won't support much of anything, no matter how much more salty water is poured on it. It's the local soil that gives the cantaloupe it's stronger flavors. (PS This is the same sort of irrigation problem that has rendered much of Dell City useless for farming today).

Labor has become an issue also.

Presidio cantaloupe is a close second to Pecos, and the same problems are cropping up there (terrible pun, but not intended) also.

I miss both. You just don't get any better. The combination of the soil and climate produce the best cantaloupe in the world.

[brattpowered]

I have driven through 45 states and of all the towns I have been to I'd say that Pecos is the last place I would want to live (up there with Jonestown, Mississippi). It is dry, flat, dusty, isolated, brown, virtually treeless and half-abandoned. It's one of those towns where it seems like everyone who was able to get out, has gotten out. Visit before making any decisions.

[catman]

At least Pecos isn't very humid and doesn't have traffic congestion. I can think of many worse places. It isn't far from the Davis Mountains either.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by jaxart

It's become harder to find them as the farm land where they are grown has become contaminated by the salty brine pumped up from underground wells for irrigation. After some years of irrigation, the salt level in the topsoil won't support much of anything, no matter how much more salty water is poured on it. It's the local soil that gives the cantaloupe it's stronger flavors. (PS This is the same sort of irrigation problem that has rendered much of Dell City useless for farming today).

Is it well water that is used? I was under the impression that water from the Pecos River was used. The water in that part of the river is so salty that it usually considered unfit for human or animal consumption. The Mexicans called the river the Rio Puerco, meaning "dirty river".

I know that there is a small dam just west of Monahans that diverts much of the water from the river. I am not sure what the end use is but I always assumed that it was for agriculture.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by Lucidus

Is it well water that is used? I was under the impression that water from the Pecos River was used.

There is indeed some limited area of farmland east of the town that benefits from being near the river. I'm not sure what the issues are with taking water from that river for irrigation, but understand it is strictly controlled. The flow in the river is also variable since it originates in Northern NM and there is little by way of downstream tributaries.

The Pecos is now a greatly depleted western river which arises from snows in the Sangre de Christos Mountains of northern New Mexico flowing many hundreds of winding miles through hot, dry, semi-desert landscapes in New Mexico and in Texas. Before any “excess” flows – if such exist - should be diverted, the basic health and integrity of the river’s system must be repaired and restored. This will not be a short-term “fix” and prior to developing a plan for riverbasin restoration, a comprehensive inventory and plan of the entire watershed must be developed having wide community support.

The full text from which the above was excerpted can be found here:

PECOS RIVER ARTICLE (Texas A&M)

The larger area of farmlands - or what were once farmlands - lie to the WSW of the town and if you look on Google Maps-Satellite View it's easy to see the amount of previously irrigated land that now lies fallow and salted.

[turkeytrot]

I went to a rodeo in Pecos about twenty five years ago. Really like the place. The Davis Mountains in the far background didn't hurt non either.