[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17065]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE HATCH CHILE FESTIVAL AND NEW MEXICO CHILE GROWERS

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I recognize the Hatch Chile 
Festival and to recognize my home State of New Mexico as the largest 
chile growing State in the Nation. Soon it will be September. For those 
from the Land of Enchantment, that means the recently harvested green 
chile is ready for roasting.
  The chile pepper is thought to have originated in South America. 
During the 1500s, Spanish explorers and colonists introduced new crops, 
including chile, to the Southwest.
  Although producers have been plagued by continuing drought 
conditions, agriculture continues to be a major contributor to our 
State's economy. Chile is one of New Mexico's most valuable commodities 
in terms of revenue, and is the State's most important agricultural 
crop both culturally and historically. New Mexico produced over 85,000 
tons of chile in 2003, and planted acreage was estimated at 15,800 
acres. Additionally, the value of the crop was estimated at around $41 
million in 2003.
  The Hatch Chile Festival is an annual event which dates back 33 
years. The festival celebrates the chile and its cultural influence on 
New Mexico and its people. The festival is held on Labor Day weekend 
and draws hundreds of participants to the small town of Hatch, located 
just west of the banks of the Rio Grande.
  Chile harvest usually begins in late July or early August and 
continues through the red chile harvest or up through the first frost. 
After harvest, the chile arrives from the farms in almost every 
container imaginable from bushel baskets and burlap bags, to wooden 
crates and cardboard boxes--all filled with freshly picked green chile 
waiting to be roasted.
  The roasting process brings out its robust flavor and is most 
commonly done using a cylindrical tumbler. During harvest season, these 
gas-powered chile roasters can be seen going almost nonstop--outside 
grocery stores, in backyards, and of course, at the Chile Festival in 
Hatch.
  The festival spreads across the entire town, making room for visitors 
to take in the sights and smells of the Chile festival and all its 
activities. The smell of roasting green chile is subtle, but 
unmistakable. The flavor of roasted green chile, like that of any food, 
is hard to describe to someone who has never experienced it.
  Chile, and its history, is as much a part of our New Mexico culture 
and heritage as hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple pie is to our national 
heritage. So much so, that we even have an official State question, 
``Red or Green?''
  In the past, the Hatch Chile Festival was a small town event which 
attracted mostly native New Mexicans or people familiar with the town 
of Hatch. However, in 2003 the Festival was featured on cable 
television's Food Network, resulting in a significant jump in 
attendance.
  Regardless of its new found fame, the festival has not lost its small 
town charm, and I expect it never will. The festival brings great 
recognition to Hatch valley locals, and much pride to native New 
Mexicans and visitors alike. For that, and for all the accomplishments 
of chile producers and festival organizers, I am proud, and I salute 
them all here in this Record. Keep up the good work, and may you 
continue to represent Hatch and the State of New Mexico with 
distinction.

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