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THE EXTREME HEAT THAT HAS DEFINED THE SUMMER OF 2023 DIDN'T STOP.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM DESCENDING ON DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE FOR THE HATCH CHILI FEST.
ORDER 6 21 1 56 HOSTED BY THE CITY'S PARTS ARTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND STAGED AT THE FARMER'S MARKET.
THE ANNUAL AUGUST FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE ARRIVAL OF THE RENOWNED GREEN CHILI PEPPERS THAT ARE HARVESTED AND IMPORTED EACH SUMMER FROM THE HATCH VALLEY IN NEW MEXICO, ROASTED AND PACKAGED ONSITE BY PARKS, DEPARTMENT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
THEY'RE MADE AVAILABLE TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE HOME AND ENJOY AND YEAR AFTER YEAR, PEOPLE CONTINUE TO COME FROM ALL OVER TO GET THEIR HANDS ON WHAT MANY CONSIDER TO BE THE WORLD'S BEST TASTING AND MOST VERSATILE CHILI PEPPERS.
YOU SEE THE NAME AND YOU KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST CHILI YOU'VE EVER HAD.
YOU MIX IT IN YOUR SOUP, YOU PUT IT IN YOUR SAUCES, YOU MAKE BARBECUE OUT OF IT.
I'M A BIG CHILI GUY, BIG STEW GUY, SO I'M ALWAYS COOKING.
SO I LIKE THE ROASTED BECAUSE OF THE FLAVOR AND BECAUSE IT KIND OF TAKES THAT LITTLE CLEAR, UH, FILM OFF THE TOP.
BUT THEN THE FRESH ONES, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DEE THOSE AND THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND FREEZE 'EM, AND I TAKE THOSE OUT AND THROW 'EM IN MY STEW.
SO HATCH CHILIES ARE JUST GOOD ALL AROUND.
THEY'RE NOT TOO HOT, BUT THEY'RE FULL OF FLAVOR AND YEAH, I COME BACK EVERY YEAR.
OFFICIALS SAY THEY MADE 4,400 POUNDS OF HATCH PEPPERS AVAILABLE FOR SALE THIS YEAR.