NEW MEXICO – The state of New Mexico is launching a “New Mexico Certified Chile” trademark to protect its chile from foreign competitors by putting it in the same protective status as Idaho potatoes or Florida oranges.

The Spokeman-Review reports that Governor Susana Martinez, members of the New Mexico Chile Association and other officials unveiled the program before a packed room of chile aficionados on Tuesday.

“Whether you prefer red, green or Christmas (a mix of both), you want to know that your chile was grown in New Mexico by farmers with generations of experience, in rich soil and the kind of intense sunlight that makes this flavorful food,” she said.

This program builds on an existing law that makes it illegal to advertise any products as New Mexico chile unless it is grown in the state.

KOB4 News reports that foreign competitors are known to flood American markets with lower quality and less expensive chile and even falsely label it as grown in New Mexico.  Farmers say that these false claims take money away and weaken the overall reputation of the New Mexico product.

Chile farmers in New Mexico are currently seeing a robust harvest with farm workers hauling the state’s famous green chile by the ton.

“We did have some rain but we just had luck on our side,” said Glen Duggins, a local chile farmer.  “Every time it rained, we needed the water, and it hasn’t hurt us.  The chile is just beautiful – the mild, the hot, the extra hot – looks like a bumper crop!" 

The chile industry has a strong impact on New Mexico’s economy.  It supports more than 4,000 jobs in that state and has an economic impact of more than $400 million, according to KOB4 News.  New Mexico is hoping this trademark will protect and enhance the industry.