The chile is the official vegetable of the state of New Mexico. Here are some fun facts about why New Mexico may be the “spiciest” state in the U.S.
- The people of New Mexico eat more chiles per capita than in any other state in the U.S.
- Over 80,000 tons of chiles are grown in New Mexico
- The most popular question to ask in New Mexico is Red or Green?
- Hatch Valley has coined the chile capital of America where special Hatch chiles are farmed
- A ristra is a collection of dried pepper pods that are used as a popular decorative item in the homes of New Mexico.
- Red and green chiles have been depicted by many artists in paintings and other artwork of New Mexico
- It is a state law in New Mexico that chiles must be grown in New Mexico to be named or labeled New Mexico chiles
- The Hatch Chiles, the Anaheim Pepper, Rio Grande Chiles, and the Pueblo Chiles are all chiles that have been cultivated by the people of New Mexico.
- Fabian Garcia was the horticulturalist who first pioneered the New Mexico Chile No. 9 back in 1913
- Paul Bosland founded the Chili Pepper Institute at the University of New Mexico to study chiles from New Mexico and also those grown throughout the world.
- For 45 years the Hatch Chile Festival held in early September has attracted thousands of locals and tourists to try the best chiles New Mexico has to offer.