By Nicole Maxwell
A bill seeking to commemorate a primary ingredient in New Mexican cuisine got a step closer to the governor’s desk Tuesday.
HB 122, which seeks to name August as New Mexico Red and Green Chile Month, was unanimously approved by the full House of Representatives.
Related: Chile commemorative month gaining traction
New Mexico leads the country in chile production even though the crop has declined in the last few decades.
Thirty years ago, New Mexico had more than 30,000 acres of chile. That has fallen to about 8,000 acres now, bill sponsor Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, said.
The decline is partially from chile being harvested in Mexico and processed in New Mexico.
“Also, the aging population of our farmers, which is why so many in this body are working hard to connect new farmers to resources and to connect small farmers to resources so that they have a supply chain in place,” Dow said.
The bill now goes to the Senate.