LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - The chile harvest has begun as grocery stores in Las Cruces are starting to roll out roasters in preparation for green chile sales.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/Oe6TaC) that this year's crop is being sold at roadside stands in the Hatch area.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report says that last week the New Mexico chile harvest was 11 percent complete.
Retailers and canneries this year are subject to a new law that prevents falsely advertising that chile is New Mexico-grown, if it's from elsewhere.
Katie Goetz, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, says inspectors have already found some violators and will be on the lookout as the season continues.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
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