Meet Jason Conway: Superhots from East Fork Pepper Farm

At SpiceQuest, we take pride in collaborating with growers whose discipline, curiosity, and dedication bring extraordinary peppers to life. Meet Jason Conway, founder of East Fork Pepper Farm, a Marine Corps veteran and former college professor whose journey into the world of superhots spans two coasts and more than a decade of experimentation.

From One Ghost Pepper to East Fork Pepper Farm

Jason’s obsession began in 2013 during a college horticulture class, where he grew a single Ghost Pepper plant. Most people chase superhots for the endorphin rush, but Jason was immediately hooked by their fascinating and sometimes terrifying appearances, quickly falling in love with the striking shapes, colors, and sheer beauty of the pods. By 2018, he had moved onto a small ranch in Southern California’s Inland Empire, scaling up to 100 plants each season to test and experiment with a wide range of superhot varieties.

After a 14-year career in higher education that culminated in serving as an adjunct professor, a new career opportunity for his family brought him across the country in 2025. He settled on a six-acre farm in southern Ohio, just across the river from his home state of Kentucky. There, Jason turned a long-running passion into a dedicated operation, and East Fork Pepper Farm was born.

Discipline in the Dirt

Before entering academia and agriculture, Jason served a four-year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009, completing two deployments to Iraq. That foundation shapes everything he does in the dirt today.

“The Marine Corps taught me the value of hard labor and consistent effort,” Jason explains. “I take that same level of discipline and apply it to growing my superhot peppers without pesticides or sprays.”

Among the many varieties he cultivates, two stand out as personal favorites: the fiery Hellboy and the notoriously unstable Swamp Thing.

The SpiceQuest Connection

We’re honored to feature Jason and East Fork Pepper Farm in our Limited Edition Pepper Series. His disciplined, no-shortcuts approach to growing visually stunning superhots is exactly the kind of craftsmanship we celebrate.

Jason grew the peppers for our Limited Edition Hellboy. This chocolate-colored superhot has a rich, fruity character, and this batch tested at 781,260 SHU.

Connect with Jason

If you’re interested in Jason’s superhot peppers, you can find East Fork Pepper Farm on:

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