SENATE MEMORIAL 34

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Crystal R. Diamond

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 15, 2023 "CHILE DAY" IN THE SENATE.

 

     WHEREAS, for hundreds of years, New Mexicans have perfected the art of growing delicious chiles from New Mexico's rocky, rugged soil; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico chile has an unparalleled, world-famous flavor that cannot be found anywhere else; and

     WHEREAS, Hatch is considered the chile capital of the world, and the largest chile processor is located in Deming; and

     WHEREAS, the chile pepper institute at New Mexico state university is the only international organization dedicated to the education, research and archiving of information related to chile; and

     WHEREAS, horticulturist Dr. Fabian Garcia developed "New Mexico 9", the first New Mexico variety chile; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico state university has developed numerous chile varieties, including Sandia, New Mexico 6-4, NuMex big Jim, NuMex Joe E. Parker and NuMex odyssey; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico leads the nation in chile production, with fifty-one thousand tons of chile produced in 2021, of which forty-six thousand five hundred tons were green chile and four thousand five hundred tons were red chile; and

     WHEREAS, ninety-one percent of chile grown in New Mexico goes to processors for value-added products such as powders, salsas and sauces, with nine percent sold on the fresh market; and

     WHEREAS, the importance that the chile industry has on New Mexico's economy is significant, providing more than five thousand jobs and contributing more than four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) to the state's economy, according to the New Mexico chile association; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans immortalize chile at every opportunity; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature adopted chile and pinto beans both as New Mexico's state vegetables, the argument being that the two vegetables were inseparable when served; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature also passed a house joint memorial declaring "Red or green?" as the official state question, referring to the question of whether a person prefers red or green chile when ordering New Mexican cuisine; and

     WHEREAS, making such a difficult choice has many people ordering "Christmas", both red and green chile, the best of both worlds; and

     WHEREAS, during this legislative session, lawmakers are even considering Senate Bill 188, the adoption of "the aroma of green chile roasting in the fall" as "the official aroma of New Mexico"; and

     WHEREAS, adding to chile's allure, New Mexico state university developed NuMex "Espanola improved", which was grown on the space station and is the longest space plant experiment in history; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans and connoisseurs around the world know: chile is not just food, it is tradition;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 15, 2023 be declared "Chile Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chile industry be recognized for the industry's contributions to New Mexico's economy and taste buds; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the New Mexico chile association and the secretary of tourism.

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