Horse barn. Mesilla Valley, New Mexico, 2018
Photograph and text by Bruce Berman
The Mesilla Valley extends from Radium Springs, New Mexico, to the west side of El Paso, Texas. It is intersected by the Rio Grande river (which becomes the Rio Bravo on the Mexican side, which begins in El Pas/Juárez) The valley is characterized by its few remaining bosques, as well as its native cottonwood trees.
Agriculture is the primary enterprise in this area. The world’s largest pecan orchard, Stahman farms, is located south of the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Alfalfa, cotton, chile, onions and corn are other important cash crops grown in the Mesilla Valley. The Mesilla Valley is increeasingly known for its wine-producing capabilities, which originated with the Spanish exploration into New Mexico. It was part of Mexico until Gadsden Purchase in 1853.
For local residents of the region, the Mesilla Valley is a green and verdant respite from the surrounding dry Chihuahuan Desert.