“Red or green?” New Mexico's the only state with an official state question, but what a question! Do you want dark, rich, red chile with your food, or succulent, spicy green chile?
Well, if your answer is green, or Christmas (some of each), you'll need to stock up on Hatch chiles, one of a select handful of American produce that identifies strongly with its terroir, like Vidalia onion. Hatch chiles can ONLY come from the area around Hatch, New Mexico, and they're nearly always roasted for consumption.
This year's Hatch chile roasts will be starting the second week in August. Bear in mind that this is an agricultural product, so the early harvests may be unpredictable. Show up early–lines can get very long–and, if you're going to buy from El Rey, you'll want to reserve now (see below).
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If you can't wait until then, Bautista Creek Produce at the SoCo farmers market (Saturday mornings in the parking lot at 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa) had Big Jim chiles grown in Hemet this past weekend. They're not Hatch chiles, but they're pretty darn close, and he's got a roaster on-site.
Albertsons green chile is $34.99 for a 30-pound sack, including roasting fee, with a 10-sack limit per customer per day. El Rey Farms' green chile is $41 per 38-pound sack for fresh, $55 per 38-pound sack for roasted. Frieda's Produce at Ralphs' green chile is $16.99 for ten pounds or $24.99 for 25 pounds, which includes the roasting fee. Northgate's green chile is $29.99 for a 30-pound sack, including roasting. The remaining locations will set their own prices; Melissa's does not set retail pricing.
Watch this post–we'll be updating it throughout the season, which runs through about Labor Day, as information rolls in. If you hear of other Hatch chile roasts in Southern California, please drop us a line by leaving a comment, or by clicking the byline and then choosing “Email Author”.
Saturday, Aug. 3
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 2400 W. Commonwealth Ave., Alhambra; 626-293-7100
Lucky, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 4155 Tweedy Blvd., South Gate; 323-569-1588
Saturday, Aug. 10
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 380 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa; 949-645-8283
Melissa's @ Gelson's, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 24 Monarch Bay Plz., Dana Point; 949-488-8147
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 2469 Via Campo, Montebello; 323-888-2250
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 5080 Rodeo Rd., Baldwin Hills; 323-292-0633
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 521 W. Foothill Blvd., La Cañada; 818-790-0584
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 14440 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818-989-5640
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 11660 E. Firestone Blvd., Norwalk; 562-862-8203
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 1410 43rd St., San Diego; 619-266-6080
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 1320 W. Francisquito Ave., West Covina; 626-919-5183
Sunday, Aug. 11
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 720 W. La Palma Ave., Anaheim; 714-563-0721
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 6801 S. Atlantic Ave., Bell; 323-562-2188
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 1950 Main St., San Diego; 619-237-8022
Saturday, Aug. 17
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 5241 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach; 714-377-0024
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 13321 Jamboree Rd., Tustin; 714-544-0491
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 6991 Lincoln Ave., Buena Park; 714-252-8022
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 770 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana; 714-775-5555
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 720 3rd Ave., Chula Vista; 619-498-5160
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 8850 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga; 909-484-7237
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 3601 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena; 626-351-8806
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 11727 Olympic Blvd., West Los Angeles; 310-473-5238
Melissa's @ Bristol Farms, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 8448 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester; 310-410-0593
Melissa's @ Gelson's, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 2734 Townsgate Rd., Westlake Village; 805-496-0353
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 16259 Paramount Blvd., Paramount; 562-259-9950
Sunday, Aug. 18
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 929 S. Euclid St., Anaheim; 714-991-1950
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 425 S. Soto St., Los Angeles; 323-262-0595
Saturday, Aug. 24
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 1800 W. Whittier Blvd., La Habra; 562-697-6442
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 17801 Santiago Blvd., Villa Park; 714-998-0041
Melissa's @ Gelson's, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 1660 San Miguel Dr., Newport Beach; 949-644-8660
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 19307 Saticoy St., Reseda; 818-772-0010
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 260 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles; 323-937-3263
Frieda's @ Ralphs, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 12842 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; 818-761-6196
Melissa's @ Bristol Farms, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 3105 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 310-829-3137
Melissa's @ Bristol Farms, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 606 Fair Oaks, South Pasadena; 626-441-5450
Melissa's @ Sprouts, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 690 3rd Ave., Chula Vista; 619-409-7630
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 831 N. Hacienda Blvd., La Puente; 626-435-1440
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 9101 E. Telegraph Rd., Pico Rivera; 562-949-6143
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 5403 University Ave., San Diego; 619-265-9701
Sunday, Aug. 25
Melissa's @ Sprouts, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 878 Eastlake Pkwy., Chula Vista; 619-421-2099
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 3828 N. Peck Rd., El Monte; 626-442-8200
Northgate González, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., 606 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido; 760-745-5701
Saturday, Aug. 31
Melissa's @ Bristol Farms, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 810 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach; 949-760-6514
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 298 E. Live Oak Rd., Arcadia; 626-446-1416
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 13003 Whittier Blvd., Whittier; 562-696-5025
Melissa's @ Gelson's, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 4520 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818-377-4140
Saturday, Sept. 7
Albertsons, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 8880 Valley View Rd., Buena Park; 714-236-8200
Melissa's @ Bristol Farms, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 8510 Genesee Ave., La Jolla; 858-558-4180
Melissa's @ Gelson's, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 2725 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles; 323-660-0387
Melissa's @ Zapien's Salsa Grill, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 6704 Rosemead Blvd., Pico Rivera; 562-942-7072
Saturday, Sept. 14
Melissa's @ Gelson's 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 22277 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas; 818-906-6228
El Rey Farms
Pre-order your green chile at El Rey Farms' website, then pick up at La Puente High School, 15615 E. Nelson, La Puente.
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