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Hot Peppers Spice Up a Rainy Day in The People’s Garden

Posted by Kayla Harless and Andrew White, People’s Garden Interns in Initiatives
Jun 11, 2010

Where can you have free chili from the famous  Ben’s Chili Bowl, chile pepper plants, chile pepper t-shirts, chile pepper games, live mariachi music, and tons of spicy fun? At The People’s Garden New Mexico Chile Pepper Fiesta!

Yesterday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The People’s Garden, we celebrated New Mexico Chile Peppers.  New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute partnered with The People’s Garden to spread the word about chile peppers. In March, they supplied us with 500 chile pepper seeds, which we planted, grew, and loved… all to give away to the public at the Chile Pepper Fiesta yesterday.

Additionally, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and New Mexico Congressman (3rd District) Ben Ray Luján came out to give remarks and plant chile pepper plants in The People’s Garden’s raised beds.

In spite of the drizzly weather, the chile pepper fiesta was a success. The music was spectacular, Chile Challenge games were a blast, and the chili, salsa and tortillas were deliciously hot.  Aye yai yai!

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan assists New Mexico Congressman (3rd District) Ben Ray Luján plant chili peppers at the New Mexico Chile Pepper Fiesta held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 on the east lawn of the Whitten Building at the USDA People’s Garden.
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan assists New Mexico Congressman (3rd District) Ben Ray Luján plant chili peppers at the New Mexico Chile Pepper Fiesta held on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 on the east lawn of the Whitten Building at the USDA People’s Garden.


Poster about New Mexico created by Levon Cooper.
Poster about New Mexico created by Levon Cooper.


Category/Topic: Initiatives