FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jenny Green
Communications Specialist, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
jgreen@nmda.nmsu.edu
Office: 575-646-3060
Cell: 575-202-4249
Aug. 27, 2024
Fan-favorite food competitions to take the stage at state fair
Salsas, cheeseburgers, jerky plus student culinary competition battle for the best flavor
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The wait is almost over for some of the most popular repeat foodie events at the New Mexico State Fair – New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge and Battle of the Salsas. Other events this year will include the Beef Jerky Showdown, which makes its return to the fair, plus the New Mexico State Fair’s inaugural Green Chile Stew Cook-Off, which brings together eight high school ProStart teams from across the state.
The New Mexico State Fair announces the return of the Beef Jerky Showdown – a competition to showcase the popular, savory snack that is enjoyed by so many – at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 near the Agriculture Building. There are two categories in this competition: salt and pepper flavor and green chile flavor. Each category will have a People’s Choice Winner.
New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte encourages fairgoers to attend all of the events happening in and around the newly remodeled Agriculture Building, including the Beef Jerky Showdown.
“We’re excited to have a unique mix of attractions at the fair this year that complement repeat events, like the Beef Jerky Showdown, that fairgoers have grown to love,” said Witte.
The Beef Jerky Showdown isn’t the only event bringing some spice to the fairgrounds.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) announces the return of the spiciest competition at the New Mexico State Fair. The Battle of the Salsas is a contest of the taste buds and will crown the best salsa in the Land of Enchantment.
The spice-tacular battle will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, featuring salsa brands available for purchase within the Country Store. The first 250 people in attendance will serve as judges. Each judge will be provided with individually packaged salsa samples, a bag of tortilla chips and a ballot. After the judges try all the salsas, cast their votes and submit their ballots, the results will be tallied, and the top three winners will be announced as the most enchanting salsas in the land.
Black Market Salsa won in 2023 for the second year in a row with its Belligerent Batch. Given the owner’s deep roots in New Mexico’s food culture, the company is proud to have made the awards list for best salsa in the state.
This contest has become a long-standing tradition at the fair and is a great way to showcase one of New Mexico’s signature foods through a friendly and spicy competition.
“Battle of the Salsas is a great way to explore your favorite flavors of some of New Mexico agriculture’s more popular value-added products,” said Witte.
The 2024 Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge will take place at 12 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9. This contest has seen some tough competition in recent years, by bringing in some of New Mexico’s most renowned brick and mortar restaurants for a chance to claim savory victory.
Competitors prepare their burgers on site before the mouth-watering goodness is passed on to the judges. Comprised of prominent members of the local community, the panel of judges will determine the champion of this twist on an American classic.
Fairgoers are invited to watch the event before a limited number is able to taste and rank the competitors. Participation is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once the judging is completed, both the Judges’ Choice Winner and People’s Choice Winner will be crowned.
Oso Grill of Capitan took home both the Judges’ Choice Award and People’s Choice Award in last year’s Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge. Although Oso Grill won’t be participating this year, owner Brian Cleckler said the competition puts the spotlight on local restaurants and products in the best way possible.
“The Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge has been great for business. It promotes beef and green chile in New Mexico and all over the world,” said Cleckler. “I had a writer from England come just to try our green chile cheeseburger.”
New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte said that all of these food competitions at the fair are a great reminder that if you eat food, you are a part of agriculture. “The latter is doubly true when you support local businesses and what they offer,” said Witte. “The New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge at the New Mexico State Fair is a win-win in that exact way, because it gathers the community to celebrate the joy of eating locally, which keeps the spirit of the state’s ag industry going.”
The 2024 Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge will feature the following 10 contestants:
- Big Mike’s Burgers and More of Belen
- Craft Republic of Albuquerque
- Del’s Family Restaurant of Tucumcari
- Downshift Brewing Company of Ruidoso
- Effingbar and Grill of Albuquerque
- Grill at the Monte Carlo of Questa
- Isleta Grill of Isleta Pueblo
- Savory Bar and Grill of Albuquerque
- Slate Street Billiards of Rio Rancho
- Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ and Espresso of Hatch
For more information about the Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge, Battle of the Salsas or the Jerky Showdown, please visit the New Mexico State Fair website or contact NMDA’s Marketing and Development Division at 575-646-4929.
As a reminder, below is a list of all NMDA events happening at the State Fair. All events will take place at or near the Agriculture Building.
- Beef Jerky Showdown at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5
- Battle of the Salsas at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7
- Green Chile Cheese Burger Challenge at noon Monday, Sept. 9
- Red, White and Brews Happy Hours from 3 to 8 p.m. daily
- Country Store will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 15 (located inside the Agriculture Building)
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