Exploring Southern New Mexico's Hatch Green Chile

Kristin Dickerson explores one of Southern New Mexico's most iconic foods: Hatch Green Chile.
For the farmers who grow Hatch Green Chile, it's a way of life. We meet Chris Franzoy, owner of Young Guns Produce, whose family has been growing chile in the Hatch Valley for more than a century.
Journey with us to The Game Sports Bar and Grill in Las Cruces to explore some of the creative ways to consume it: a Bloody Mary, green chile macaroni and cheese, atop a classic cheese burger, and battered with locally-grown pecans and fried to golden deliciousness.

[@tomgensel4134]

Last year Hatch Chiles came to our town. I love peppers and tried my first Hatch peppers. Thought it might be a gimmick but it wasn't. I'm looking for them now. 😋

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

GREAT! I think they're delicious and we eat them on everything. Thank you for letting us know you tried them! -Kristin

[@Sandiaseed]

New Mexico Hatch chile is the best!

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

We agree!!

[@uniquesexy8908]

yup that is right no one like us

[@Mike_Greentea]

I put hatch chilies in my cereal!

[@gankstar2000]

'It's made a good Christian out of me... I pray a lot". Great video; God bless!

[@mattfitzpatrick83]

I bought a jug of Young Guns hot green chile sauce on Amazon. Great stuff!

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

@@mattfitzpatrick83 yup! It’s soooo good. We buy it frozen and it’s great.

[@GrantDWilliams82]

The Game is like the restaurant equivalent of that meme where Steve Buchemi is dressed up like a teenager with a skateboard and he's like "Hello young people. How are we hanging today?" I feel like if you walked into The Game they'd be like "Welcome, sports viewing citizen. I will be giving you foods that you like while you are watching the competitions on our televisions. Right this way."

[@user-xp4uq4qm9q]

.I love hatch chili it comes to hot springs South Dakota every year so I always have to get some I was born in Santa Rita in 1950 and lived all over till I was 18 than moved to California I have been thinking of moving back there so just checking different towns if I move there would I be welcome or not

[@sonnyparedes6198]

God Bless your crop! I am 77 and have enjoyed Hatch chiles since I was 2. Thanks Nuevo Mexicans. ? How do you determine which pod is mild, medium or hot?

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

Thank you for watching! It's our understanding that the heat starts with the seed. High-tech farming :)

[@yorotirb3941]

Do youse sell and ship frozen chili, have a website?

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

This video is about the Franzoy family, and they ship their chile. Here is a link: www.yghatchchile.com/collections/all Hope that helps! It’s delicious and we eat it all the time. -K

[@Elaine-br4lw]

"Farming had made a good Christian out of me, I pray a lot"

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

I love that perspective. ❤️🙏

[@sanjursan]

It is not a Jalapeno, or a Poblano. Pretty big for a Serrano. What is it? (Ya, I know, it's a Hatch, but what does that mean?)

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

Hi there! According to the Chile Pepper Institute at NMSU: "There actually is no chile pepper variety named Hatch. The name indicates the area where the chile peppers are grown. The town of Hatch, New Mexico is located about 40 miles north of New Mexico State University, the home of the Chile Pepper Institute. This New Mexican pod type was first commercially grown in the Hatch Valley and eventually spread to other areas around New Mexico. Varieties that fall under the New Mexican pod type include: NuMex Big Jim, NuMex Joe E. Parker, NuMex Conquistador, Espanola Improved, Sandia, Anaheim, and New Mexico 6-4. Any one of these varieties may be found in a grocery store or farmers’ market labeled as ‘Hatch’ chile. Also to be labeled as a Hatch chile pepper, the pepper must have been grown in New Mexico." Hope that helps.

[@dr.stephenflorezdc6358]

You know they literally grow “TONS” of this stuff. So it’s really not that great, it’s a hot Anaheim chili! Why not explore some real gourmet heirloom chili with a great flavor and less heat? I’m talking about the chili from the northern part of the state, specifically the chili grown in Chimayo!

[@spiritandnatureproductions7470]

We were in Chimayo just a few weeks ago. If you know a specific grower, let us know.

[@dr.stephenflorezdc6358]

@@spiritandnatureproductions7470 I don’t know a specific grower. I do have an uncle in the area his name is Roque Martinez, and has lived there his entire life. His son is Loren Martinez and I believe lives with him. Track them down and they probably can help you. They live in Chimayo on the main road that eventually goes to Truchas.