NM Legislature

State announces a chile license plate

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Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed a bill to create a speciality chile license plate—but chile lovers will still be able to get a license plate featuring chile without the extra cost of a specialty plate. The new black license plate says in yellow lettering “Chile capital of the world” and has yellow license plate numbers. It also features a green chile pepper in front of a red chile pepper. “With the creation of this license plate, we are sending a strong message that New Mexico is the only chile capital of the world,” Gov. Martinez said in announcing the new license plate. “Not only does chile play a significant role in our state’s culture – it is one of our state’s greatest treasures, and this license plate will let the world know.”

This came after Martinez vetoed legislation that would have created a specialty chile license plate whose funds would have went to educational programs with the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.

chile

Heinrich adds a voice to the Hatch ‘chile battle’

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A U.S. Senator from New Mexico is stepping up to bat for the state’s chile growers. Sen. Martin Heinrich voiced his concern for chile growers in New Mexico who currently have a case filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. His concern, he said, is out of state companies with labels that may confuse consumers. Chile, both red and green, is an iconic crop for New Mexico. New Mexico even has an official State Question: “Red or green?”

Heinrich said he spoke out in favor of New Mexico chile farmers because he wants to see them get credit for their labor.