Hatch green chiles are feeling the heat
IN THE VILLAGE OF HATCH, New Mexico, at a chile shop cloaked in red ristras — the ornamental strings of chiles that often adorn doorways and windows in the state — Jessie Moreno, the young farmer who owns the store, tallies up sales, offers free samples and cranks an iron basket-topped chile roaster.
“This little festival is like a gold mine for us,” said Moreno, 21, gesturing toward three hissing chile roasters. A smoky, pungent aroma rose from the tumbling specimens of and permeated the air. The town’s annual Hatch Chile Festival bolstered sales for two days, attracting around 15,000 chile connoisseurs and hobbyists from as far as West Virginia, Louisiana and Florida, in a welcome boost after last year’s pandemic-caused hiatus. Even so, Moreno and other local farmers couldn’t help worrying about the crop’s uncertain future
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days