Welcome to New Mexico Chile!
New Mexico Chile Facts
- New Mexico produces roughly 77% of chile peppers in the United States and is ranked No. 1 in chile production nationally. (National Agriculture Statistics Service)
- The value of New Mexico chile production in 2023 was estimated at $41.5 million.
- The total chile pepper production in New Mexico in 2023 was 46,750 tons. (USDA-NASS)
- In 2023, 88% of chile grown was green chile (41,120 tons) in comparison to 12% red chile (5,630 tons). (2023 New Mexico Chile Production)
- A ½ cup of chopped or diced chile peppers delivers 108 mg of Vitamin C, which is more than most oranges. (Chicago health)
- The D.H. Lescombes Winery, 45 minutes southwest of Hatch, makes a Hatch Green Chile Wine, which is a sweet-tasting wine with a spicy twist of New Mexico chile. (Puchase here)
- Fabian Garcia, who started chile pepper research at NMSU, was inducted to the National Agricultural Center’s Hall of Fame in 2021. (Chile Pepper Institute and Las Cruces Bulletin)
New Mexico-Taste the Tradition and -Grown with Tradition Logo Program
The program was created by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) to promote New Mexico products and identify them as either grown or made in the state. The NMDA Marketing and Development Division oversees the program. Full details on the program can be found on the Taste the Tradition Logo Program page.
The New Mexico Chile Advertising Act
The Act is a state statute that makes it unlawful to advertise, label or sell chile peppers or products as New Mexico ( or city, town, county, village, pueblo, mountain, river or other geographic feature located in New Mexico) chile unless the chile peppers or products were grown in New Mexico. The NMDA Standards and Consumer Services (SCS) Division administers the Act.
"Chile pepper" is defined in the Act as " the fruit from Capsicum annuum." The most common types are red and green chile, Chimayo, Sandia, jalapeño, Anaheim pepper, bell pepper, cayenne, paprika, serrano, banana, de Arbol, pepperoncini, poblano and sweet pepper.
Who does the New Mexico Chile Advertising Act affect?
For information about the New Mexico Chile Advertising Act, please contact NMDA's SCS Division at 575-646-1616 or nmchile@nmda.nmsu.edu. If your product is subject to the Act, you must submit any necessary verification forms - at no cost - to the NMDA SCS Division.
After NMDA receives your verification form(s), your product will be listed on the NMDA website as a verified New Mexico chile product.
| Was your business and New Mexico-labeled chile pepper product(s) established prior to July 1, 2013? | |
| Yes | No |
| Your product is eligible for a "Not Grown in New Mexico" disclaimer statement. | Your product may be subject to the Act. |
Chile Vendor Verification
All vendors need to fill out a verification form annually and prior to June 30.
Before beginning the verification process, please have the following available:
- Name and mailing address of supplier/producer
- Clear and concise labels for each chile product (including UPCs)
- Location(s) of production/crop (physical address)
- Type of chile grown
- All retail outlets supplied
To read the requirements in their entirety, visit the New Mexico Chile Verification and Record Requirements page.
You can complete the online Chile Vendor Verification Form here.
For a list of frequently asked questions please visit the New Mexico Advertising Act FAQ.
View current vendors at NMDA's Chile Vendor public records.
To become a member of NMDA's Taste the Tradition Logo Program, visit the ElevateNMAg website.
New Mexico Department of Agriculture
Standards and Consumer Services Division
P.O. Box 30005, MSC 3170
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8005
nmchile@nmda.nmsu.edu
575-646-1616 (phone)
575-646-2361 (fax)