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Who we are: The New Mexico Chile
Association is a non-profit organization composed of growers and producers who are fighting to ensure
the chile industry remains and prospers in New Mexico.
Why
Is  New Mexico Chile So Good?
- In the Southern part of the state where
much of the chile is grown, there
is 350 days of sunshine
each year
- Chile craves warm dry weather and warm soil and we can deliver!
- Varieties are grown with NM climate, soil and ag practices in mind
What Chile Means to New Mexico
- What oranges are to Florida and Idaho is to potatoes, chile
is to New Mexico!
- This crop defines our state. Our state question is: Red or Green?
- It is consumed by many at every meal!
- Celebrated at festivals all over the state
- It is the largest agricultural cropin the state, contributing significantly to the states
economy
-
It is THE unique cuisine of New Mexico, a large part of the reasons hundreds of
thousands
of tourists visit our state each year
What is Happening to NM Chile?
- Industry is
in a steep decline
- 34,500 acres
were harvested in 1992; only 11,100 acres were harvested in 2008
- Foreign competitors sell red chile cheaper than we can grow it in NM
- China is trying to corner the world oleoresin market which accounts for 30%
of NM acreage
- Foreign companies are
take advantage of their reduced regulation and cheap
plentiful labor
- Imports account for
about 82% of chile consumed in the U.S., automation is the
only solution
- Sometimes chile
is sold labeled as "Hatch" or "NM Grown" when it comes from outside NM
or even the U.S.
For information on what YOU can do to help click here:
SAVE NM CHILE
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