Pasadena Stater Brothers Heats Up Summer with Hatch Chile Roasting Events

Stater Bros. Market in Pasadena will host one of the 2019 season’s Hatch chile roasting events next month, when several produce suppliers throughout Southern California tumble-roast literally sacks of the popular New Mexico chile variety for customers to bring home.

Stater Bros., whose store in Pasadena is located at 1390 N. Allen Avenue, will kick off the Hatch Chile roasting season on Saturday, August 10, along with the chain’s stores in Sun City and San Jacinto. The roastings will be held daily through five weeks, according to the post.

Other produce markets in Pasadena are expected to announce their own Hatch chile roasting events in a few days.

In South Pasadena, Melissa’s Produce at Pavilions, located at 1213 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, will also roast Hatch chiles on Saturday, August 17.

Typically, Hatch chiles are roasted and added to salads, stews, soups, sandwiches, mac and cheese, corn fritters, biscuits, and dips. The peppers could also be processed into a versatile sauce for topping scrambled eggs, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and many more dishes.

Hatch chiles were originally developed in the late 60s and early 70s as a result of a breeding program at the New Mexico State University. The New Mexico peppers were grown at the town of Hatch in the Hatch Valley as a source of supply for fresh chiles in the canned and processing industry.

Around 1987, the Hatch chile was approved by the New Mexico Crop Improvement Association. Eventually, other areas with similar climate and soil conditions as the Hatch Valley started cultivating the peppers, but not as successfully as that in New Mexico.

Because their growing season is short, Hatch chiles are typically bought in bulk, roasted immediately, and frozen for use throughout the year. With limited availability and unique flavor, along with the rich history and culture surrounding them, Hatch peppers are a coveted gem.

For more information about Hatch chiles and the roasting season, visit www.ihatchchile.com.