SW New Mexico News

Thanks to a team effort led by alumni from New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, green chile lovers based near the nation’s capital will soon be able to get their chile fix.

For the second consecutive year, the Sam Steel Council will trek more than 2,000 miles from Las Cruces to the Washington, D.C., area to bring hundreds of pounds of fresh, authentic Hatch-grown green chile to Aggies who once called New Mexico home.

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, members of the council, along with staff from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), College of ACES and NMSU Foundation, will roast and sell the chile by 23-pound boxes at the Harris Teeter grocery store in Alexandria, Virginia.

“There’s a lot of love for New Mexico chile,” NMDA Secretary Jeff Witte said. “And this event is all about reconnecting with former New Mexicans and bringing them the taste – and aroma – of New Mexico’s signature crop.”

Previously, the NMSU Alumni Association orchestrated an annual chile-roasting event in the D.C. area from 2014 to 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted such events from 2020 to 2022. It wasn’t until last year that the Sam Steel Council brought back the tradition – to much fanfare. That year, the council sold 53 boxes or slightly more than 1,200 pounds of roasted chile.

“It was so wonderful to be able to connect ‘misplaced New Mexicans’ who live in the D.C. area with a piece of genuine New Mexico culture,” said Jennifer Ryder Fox, president of the Sam Steel Council. “Not only did they get to take about 23 pounds of green chile home, but as they waited for their chile to roast, they got to experience that aroma that is truly unique to New Mexico.”

Ryder Fox said this year’s event promises a weekend filled with reconnecting with old friends and introducing New Mexico chile to novices.

The Sam Steel Council is currently taking online orders for the event. So far, more than 25 boxes have been sold. The chile is available in either hot or mild varieties and supplied by Melissa’s Produce at $70 per box; prices will increase to $75 starting Aug. 1. Most proceeds from sales will fund scholarships for students in the College of ACES.

“We encourage everyone to purchase online versus at the store,” she added. “But naturally with the smell of roasting green chile, some folks are delighted to have the opportunity to purchase right there on the spot.”

Witte emphasized that outreach efforts like this are essential for promoting New Mexico's agriculture products out-of-state.

“Anytime you send products out of state,” he said, “you’re creating new markets and new opportunities... When we send our chile products to other states at a higher premium price... it gives farmers a higher return.”

During last year’s event, Witte recalled people expressing deep appreciation for bringing a piece of home back into their lives.

“If you’ve ever lived here,” he said, “and then you move away... you miss its cuisine... especially chile.”

The day before this year's event, NMSU Alumni Association will host a mixer for all D.C.-area Aggies and friends on Friday evening at Proper 21 K Street in Washington D.C.

For inquiries about the chile-roasting event: samsteelsociety@gmail.com

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