SOCORRO, NM – Votes have been received and Five Star Chili / Cinco Estrella and Rosales Farms, both of Lemitar, New Mexico, have been named winners of the 2021 Great New Mexico Chile Taste Off, hosted by Bueno Foods, the city of., Socorro and the County of Socorro are sponsored. Five Star Chili / Cinco Estrella was named best green chile in New Mexico, while Viramontes Farms of Deming, New Mexico was named second best green chile. Rosales Farms was named the best red chile in New Mexico, with Five Star Chili / Cinco Estrella as the second best red chile.
“This industry has been through a lot in the past three years and we’ve worked harder than ever,” said Glen Duggins, owner, Five Star Chili / Cinco Estrella. “When my son Kyle and I won the green chilli contest, it almost made me cry. I couldn’t have done it without him. This business is tough and it’s only getting tougher. The win gave me the energy I need to keep going. “
The judged event included a jury that selected this year’s best green and red chilli grower. The distinguished judges included: NM First President Michael Barndollar, Forrie Smith of the hit show Yellowstone, Deputy Director Anthony Parra of the NM Department of Agriculture, CEO Chad Smith of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, KOAT reporter Stephanie Muniz, and host of Albuquerque Connect Jim Williams.
And not just a winner of the chilli tasting contest, Linda Rosales of Rosales Farms was also delegated as Chile Queen 2021, who was celebrated with a crown for her keeping and red and green fireworks donated by Aimone-Martin Associates.
“Our goal at The Great New Mexico Chile Taste-Off was to raise awareness of the New Mexico chilli industry, which is constantly threatened by chilli grown outside of the state but often portrayed as being grown in New Mexico said Joram Robbs, Executive Director of the New Mexico Chile Association. “This event gives us the opportunity to showcase some of the best chillies in the world that are certified for growing in New Mexico. We are grateful for those who participated and represented the New Mexico chilli industry so well. “
Other participants in this year’s competition were:
• Speir family farms in Deming, New Mexico
• Genesis Gardens from Tucumcari, New Mexico
• Lopez Farms from Socorro, New Mexico
• Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) of Farmington, New Mexico
• Wind Mesa Farms in San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico
This year’s in-person event follows last year’s nationwide one-month Chile tour in response to COVID-19.
Via the New Mexico Chile Association
The New Mexico Chile Association is a not-for-profit organization that works to ensure that the Chile industry in New Mexico stays and thrives. The organization has represented the industry for over a decade and consists of growers, processors and manufacturers. Please visit https://nmchileassociation.com/ for more information.
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