[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING BUENO FOODS

 Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, today I wish to honor a longstanding 
New Mexico institution: Bueno Foods. New Mexicans pride ourselves for 
our creative and delicious food, especially our homegrown chile. It is 
our official State vegetable and even the reason for our official state 
question, ``Red or Green?'' While generations of New Mexicans have 
loved chile in all sorts of forms, even dessert, our famous cuisine has 
more recently been adopted by food lovers across the world. And that is 
largely thanks to Bueno Foods.
  On May 18, 2016, Bueno Foods of Albuquerque, NM, will celebrate its 
65th anniversary. That is a cause to celebrate Bueno Foods can trace 
its heritage to Hispanic farmers and businessowners going back to the 
Spanish explorers who came to New Mexico in the 1500s. The company was 
formed in 1946 when several brothers from an old New Mexico family, the 
Bacas, returned from serving in World War II and scraped together 
enough money to start a grocery business. Their grocery was very 
successful at the beginning, but it faced a strong challenge when 
larger chains started opening up branches in the State. So the Baca 
brothers set out to benefit from New Mexico's unique heritage, 
differentiate their business from out-of-state grocers, preserve our 
traditions, and of course, expand their sales.
  Bueno Foods was born, founded in 1951, manufacturing corn and flour 
tortillas, tamales and posole at a time when household appliances were 
just entering many homes around the country. The brothers had another 
idea, too: to take chile, roast it over an open flame as the New Mexico 
autumn tradition dictates, and freeze it so that people could enjoy 
green chile year-round. It was a success, and history was made.
  Over half a century later, you can find Bueno Foods in nearly every 
grocery store in the State and many others outside New Mexico. From 
Hawaii to Washington, DC, Bueno Foods has served as a proud ambassador 
of New Mexico cuisine, exposing new markets to delicious, fiery chile 
and the critical question, ``red or green?''
  For 65 years, Bueno Foods has made an old dicho the reality for all 
of us. ``Panza llena, corazon contento; Full belly, happy heart.'' 
Today, I recognize the Baca brothers, Jacqueline, Gene, Catherine, Ana, 
and the rest of the Bueno Foods family for the business they started 
and the tradition they still are helping to preserve.

                          ____________________