Grocery retailers across the country are preparing their stores in preparation for Hatch Green Chile season. Hatch chiles get their name from the village of Hatch, New Mexico, where the pepper is harvested only a few weeks of the year.
The sunlight and cool nights of the Hatch Valley help to grow the chiles. These medium-spicy peppers are typically roasted to produce a smoky enhancement to all types of recipes.
Central Market
The grocer is hosting its annual festival through Aug. 23 in select locations throughout Texas. The festivities will include in-store events, products and recipes. The retailer will have Hatch Chile pepper-related products, such as Hatch pecan stuffing pork tenderloin, crab-stuffed peppers, potato chips, hot sauces, beer and wine, butter and potato skins.
Food City
The Arizona-based retailer is launching a recipe contest on social media through Sept. 16. When people share their favorite pepper-related recipe on their Facebook or Instagram page publicly, using a photo and the hashtag #FoodCityHatchChile, they are automatically entered for a chance to win up to $1,000 in prizes.
The grocer will randomly select three winners. The first winner will receive $1,000 in prizes, including a $750 Food City gift card. The second winner will receive $600 in prizes, including a $400 Food City gift card. The third winner will receive $400 in prizes, including a $300 Food City gift card. Winners will be chosen Sept. 23.
Bristol Farms
The company is celebrating hatch chile season with specialty curated products involving the pepper, such as flavored meats and seafood, sauces and other grocery items. It will also be hosting live roasting events throughout California. To view the full schedule of events, click here.
Reser’s
The retailer has launched its Hatch Chile Fest, featuring pepper-infused products and on-site roasting stations. Customers will also have the option to preorder and pay for the peppers online using the grocer’s curbside feature. The company will host two roasting stations in-store on Aug. 20 and Aug. 27.
The United Family
The grocer’s chain of stores – United Supermarkets, Market Street, Albertsons Market and Amigos – will carry the peppers as well. “We are proud to continue our tradition of roasting fresh hatch green chiles at our stores,” said Joseph Bunting, produce business director for The United Family. “Each year, we look forward to showing our guests how delicious and versatile these chile peppers can be.”
Special products will also be available during this time in several different departments. The produce department will have fresh peppers, salsa and hatch guacamole, as well as other varieties of Fresh Cut selections incorporating Hatch chiles. In the market, guests will see hatch pork tenderloin, hatch burger patties as well as ReadyMeals selections incorporating the pepper.
Balls Food Stores
The retailer’s Hatch Chiles come from the Young Guns Farm in the heart of Hatch Valley. During the Hatch Chile Fest, customers will be able to buy, fresh or roasted peppers. Hen House Market will also feature many other pepper-infused items such as chicken salad, sliders from the deli and focaccia from the bakery. Additionally, products like Wholly Guacamole Hatch Chile Guacamole, Hampton Farms Hatch Chile Peanuts and Young Guns Hatch sauce will be available.
Gelson’s Market
Gelson’s will celebrate the season by featuring different variations of its heat levels depending on the crop. Live roastings will return at selected stores, including Sherman Oaks on Aug. 20, Dana Point on Aug. 27 and Long Beach on Sept. 3. Customers will also have the option to order chiles by the case online available for pickup or delivery.
For more produce news from The Shelby Report, click here.
