Last updated on December 11th, 2020 at 01:56 pm
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its signature Hatch Chile Festival, Central Market in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, has expanded the annual event to three weeks, Aug. 5-25, featuring more than 400 Hatch-related products in every area of the store and roasting more peppers than anyone outside of Hatch, New Mexico. With more people cooking at home these days, Central Market also has compiled some of its most popular Hatch chile customer recipes from the past 25 years to share. 
The roasters will still be rolling this year with extra precautionary social distance practices to keep customers and partners safe. Central Market has created a special anniversary Zoom background and Instagram stickers to share with friends during the pandemic. Download the Zoom background from Central Market’s blog page and find new CM Hatch Chile Festival stickers on the Instagram app.
Central Market stores across the state will celebrate the green chile pepper with new products and old favorites throughout the store. Whether they’re stuffed, sautéed or fire-roasted, the Hatch pepper gives any dish a signature punch, and Central Market will show off its versatility. These roasted peppers freeze beautifully as well so they can be enjoyed long after the roasters stop roasting.
Hatch chiles get their name from the village of Hatch, New Mexico, where they’re harvested only a few weeks out of the year. They aren’t grown anywhere else in the world, and connoisseurs consider them some of the finest. They’re so good that Central Market buys more Hatch chiles than any other retailer in Texas. More than 330,000 pounds of Hatch peppers will make their way to the nine Central Market stores across Texas.
New this year during Hatch Chile Festival
- Williams Farm Hatch Peach Salsa – mild and medium;
- Matteo’s Especial Hatch Salsa;
- Buckaroo’s Hatch Chile Black-eyed Pea Good Luck Salsa;
- Gustavo’s Hatch Chile Black Bean Dip and Hatch Pinto Bean Dip;
- Terrapin Ridge Hatch Aioli;
- Indulge Chocolate Hatch Chile Kettle Corn;
- Osso Good Hatch Bone Broth – made in small batches; can be used in soups, stews or Pho; nutrient dense;
- Lua Brazil, Hatch Brazilian Cheese Bread – homemade in Austin, Texas, with genuine Hatch chiles; naturally gluten-free; and
- Queen Charlotte, Hatch Pimento Cheese (CM exclusive) – created in Charlotte, North Carolina, using only the finest shredded cheese and Dukes mayonnaise in small batches.
Notable this year
- Diane’s Salad Dressing (Local item from Southlake, Texas), Hatch Valley Chile;
- Country Archer Beef Jerky (CM exclusive), Hatch Chile Pepper Beef Jerky;
- Old Montgomery Mercantile, Hatch Pickled Quail Eggs;
- CM Hatch and Sweet Lime Cookies (just for the event);
- Terrapin Ridge Hatch Jam (not new but incredible flavor);
- Green Chili Food Co., Quesadillas with Hatch Chiles, (From Richardson, Texas, exclusive to CM);
- Nounos, Hatch Chile Mango Greek Yogurt (created exclusively for CM);
- Wild Acre Brewing, Fort Worth, Texas: Mango Hatch Chile IPA – loads of pure mango fruit and mounds of house roasted Hatch Chiles combine with premium Pacific Northwest hops to create a uniquely delicious IPA with bright fruit and gently spice burn.
Back by popular demand
- Brunkow Hatch Chile Brun-uusto cheese – perfect for grilling;
- 10-inch Hatch Pepper Plants;
- Hatch Pepper Ristras (18-inch and 24-inch edible ristras);
- Hatch chicken salad;
- Hatch crab cakes;
- Hatch Pimento Mac-n-cheese;
- Grilled salmon with Hatch pesto;
- Hatch pepper tortillas;
- Hatch cheese puffs;
- Hatch lime pound cake; and
- CM Hatch hummus.
Hatch Chile Festival history
In August 1995, a single pallet of Hatch peppers and one roaster arrived at Central Market in Austin. Within 10 minutes of firing up that roaster, customers were lining up for pounds and pounds of the peppers.
Twenty-five years later, that one pallet has become more than 330,000 pounds of peppers trucked in straight from Hatch, New Mexico, to Central Market locations across Texas. The yearly celebration reached a whole new level in 2013 when the New Mexico Tourism Department deemed it the most authentic Hatch festival outside of New Mexico.
So what’s so special about Hatch chiles? The hot days and cool nights of New Mexico give this pepper a flavor all its own. But it’s the Central Market partners, with more than 120 years of combined roasting experience, who guarantee you’ll get the best roasted peppers outside of Hatch.
Central Market brings you more ways to love Hatch peppers than anyone else. What started with Hatch peppers added to our house-made sausages has exploded to more than 400 Hatch specialty items, from baked goods and cheeses to sauces and more. Plus, a collection of Hatch recipes 25 years in the making. Click to access dozens of CM’s favorite Hatch Recipes.)
