There's a more optimistic outlook on this season's Hatch chile crop. "The crop is so much better this year," says Preston Mitchell of The Hatch Chile Store. "Last year was probably the worst year in terms of quality and yield that we've ever had and this year it's looking more like a normal crop."
Light volume of the New Mexico crop started shipping last week and this week is the first full week shipping to grocery stores. "We've got loads on the road to the stores and we're also starting to ship our internet orders," says Mitchell.
On this full crop, there is a slight bit of tip burn this season from the heat in June. "Last year though we were grading out a third to half of what was coming in from the fields," he says, adding that what was coming in from the fields was 50 to 60 percent of a normal-sized crop due to extreme heat in May and June. That stressed the plants and delayed the crop and it didn't mature as quickly as it normally would. "The weather has been more cooperative by far so things are looking much better."
What has also helped the crop this year is a better water situation. Mitchell says 2022-2023's winter was a "bumper winter" for snow in the watershed while the winter of 2022-2023 was an average winter. "So we're in better shape with the two lakes we draw from for surface water and that lowers the cost for all of our growers and it means they're not pumping as much of the groundwater," he says.
The crop is also seeing a slightly earlier start which is partly because of the good weather but also the genetics of the crops which improve annually. "We're also transplanting a little earlier every year thanks to warmer springs and that gives the crop more time to mature in the field," Mitchell says.
Fall end to season
The crop will run until the first frost which is usually at the end of October to the beginning of November. "We struggle to get retailers to keep Hatch chiles in their stores after the first week of September but really, that's the best quality time–September and October," says Mitchell.
As for demand, it's been strong and Mitchell says the next three to four weeks will be the busiest weeks of the year for the movement because most retailers want to be first to market with the seasonal Hatch chiles.
Meanwhile, pricing is steady and similar to last year–a year that saw increased pricing due to inflationary pressures from the preceding two years. While labor costs are also up, other input costs are down. "At this point, most of the cost is already sunk into the product. The only thing that could fluctuate severely would be freight," says Mitchell, noting it is selling full truckloads in the $17.50-$18 FOB range.
For more information:
Preston Mitchell
Hatch Green Chile
[email protected]
www.hatch-green-chile.com