Picked Today, Shipped Today, at Your Door Tomorrow
Every box of fresh Hatch Green Chile ships the same day it's harvested. We pick on Wednesday mornings, pack that afternoon, and your chile is on a truck by evening — arriving at your door within 24 hours via overnight shipping. No warehouse. No cold storage. No sitting on a loading dock. The chile in your box was growing in our fields that same morning.
This matters because fresh chile is a living, respiring product. Every hour between harvest and your kitchen, flavor compounds volatilize and cell walls soften. A 24-hour farm-to-door chain means you receive chile with the same firm texture, bright aroma, and roasting potential as if you'd driven to the Hatch Valley and picked it yourself.
Our family has farmed chile in the Hatch Valley for five generations, starting with Joseph Franzoy — credited as the first commercial chile farmer in Hatch, New Mexico. Today, Judy Franzoy continues that legacy, overseeing the fields where we grow 10+ cultivars across the full heat spectrum. Every box is Hatch Chile Association Certified — your guarantee it was grown in the Hatch Valley, not relabeled from another region.
What's in Your Box: Chile Varieties by Heat Level
"Hatch Chile" isn't a single variety — it's a family of cultivars developed by New Mexico State University specifically for the Hatch Valley's growing conditions. Each cultivar has a distinct flavor profile, pod size, wall thickness, and heat range. When you select a heat level, here's what you may receive. Exact cultivar mix depends on what's at peak harvest that week, because we always pick what's ripest and best — never what's most convenient.
🟢 Mild Varieties
500 – 2,500 SHU
Giuseppe
A newer NMSU cultivar with exceptionally thick walls and a sweet, almost fruity undertone. Excellent for rellenos because the pod holds its shape beautifully during roasting and stuffing. Pods average 7–8 inches.
~500–1,500 SHU1904
Named for NMSU's founding year. A heritage-style cultivar with classic Hatch earthiness and minimal heat — the "pure flavor" choice. Long, slender pods (8–10 inches) with medium-thick walls. Ideal for green chile stew and sauces where you want depth without burn.
~500–1,000 SHUNM 6-4 (NuMex 6-4)
The industry workhorse — one of the most widely planted mild Hatch varieties. Reliable, meaty pods with the quintessential "green chile" flavor most people picture when they think of Hatch. Good all-purpose mild for any recipe.
~500–1,500 SHUEsmeralda
Bright green color with a clean, grassy-sweet flavor. Thinner walls than Giuseppe, so it roasts fast and peels easily. A great choice for first-time roasters or anyone making large batches of green chile sauce.
~800–2,000 SHUBest for: Chile rellenos, green chile stew, queso, family meals, and anyone who wants full Hatch flavor without significant heat.
🟡 Medium Varieties
2,500 – 5,000 SHU
Big Jim
The variety that put Hatch on the map. Developed in 1975 by NMSU's Dr. Roy Nakayama and Hatch Valley grower Jim Lytle — a son-in-law of our family's patriarch, Joseph Franzoy. Big Jim once held the Guinness World Record for the largest chile pepper, with pods stretching past 13 inches. Thick, meaty walls with a balanced warmth that builds slowly. The definitive relleno chile.
~2,500–3,500 SHUCharger
A high-yielding medium cultivar with slightly more heat than Big Jim and excellent roasting characteristics. Thick walls hold up well to high-heat charring. Smoky, savory flavor profile. Pods run 7–9 inches with consistent shape — a favorite among experienced roasters.
~3,000–4,500 SHUMatador II
Sits at the upper end of medium heat. More forward spice than Big Jim with an earthy complexity that works especially well in enchilada sauces and braised meat dishes. Reliable pod size (7–8 inches) with good wall thickness.
~3,500–5,000 SHUBest for: Enchiladas, burritos, green chile cheeseburgers, and anyone who wants noticeable warmth without overwhelming heat. Our most popular heat level.
🔴 Hot Varieties
5,000 – 10,000 SHU
Sandia Select
Named after the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. Delivers serious heat with a sharp, clean bite that doesn't linger as long as some hotter varieties. Thinner walls mean the flavor concentrates during roasting. A long-time favorite for hot green chile sauce.
~5,000–7,000 SHUG-76
A classic NMSU hot cultivar with bold, upfront heat and a slightly smoky, almost peppery finish. Pods are medium-length (6–8 inches) with moderate wall thickness. Excellent blended with a milder variety if you want to dial heat precisely.
~5,000–8,000 SHUMatador
The hotter sibling of Matador II. Rich, complex heat that builds steadily with a long finish. Works beautifully in slow-cooked dishes where the heat mellows and integrates — posole, carne adovada, and long-simmered red or green chile sauces.
~6,000–10,000 SHUBest for: Spicy green chile sauce, hot salsa, chile-forward dishes where heat is a feature. Popular with returning customers who've worked their way up from Medium.
🔥 X-Hot Varieties
15,000 – 30,000+ SHU
Miss Junie
An NMSU cultivar named after the late June Rutherford, a beloved figure in Hatch Valley chile farming. Intense, immediate heat with a sharp, almost electric bite — but still carries recognizable Hatch chile flavor underneath. Pods are shorter (5–7 inches) and more compact than milder varieties.
~15,000–20,000 SHULumbre
"Lumbre" means fire in Spanish, and it earns the name. Our hottest cultivar — comparable in heat to a serrano pepper, but with the distinctive earthy, roasted Hatch flavor profile that serranos lack. The heat is aggressive and lasting. Recommended only for experienced chile eaters who genuinely want fire. A little goes a long way; many customers blend Lumbre with milder roasted chile to create a custom heat level.
~20,000–30,000+ SHUBest for: Heat lovers, blending with milder chile to customize spice levels, and anyone who finds Hot too tame. Note: X-Hot is priced slightly higher due to lower field yields and more specialized growing requirements.
Why we grow 10+ varieties instead of just one or two: Different cultivars peak at different times during the harvest season, and each brings something distinct to the table. Growing a diverse portfolio means we can pick what's genuinely at peak ripeness each Wednesday — not force-harvest a single variety to fill orders. It also means your box reflects what the Hatch Valley is actually producing that week, which is as close to the real New Mexico chile experience as you can get without being here.
How Much Should You Order? A Sizing Guide
Fresh chile loses approximately 40% of its weight during roasting and peeling — skin, seeds, and moisture cook off. That's normal. Here's what each box size yields in usable roasted chile, and how far it goes:
| Box Size | Usable Roasted Chile | Approximate Meals | Lasts About | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lbs | ~3 lbs | 12–15 meals | 2–3 weeks of regular cooking | First-time buyers, small households, weekend cooking projects |
| 10 lbs | ~6 lbs | 25–30 meals | 1–2 months | Families, meal preppers, frequent chile users who want a solid freezer stash |
| 25 lbs | ~15 lbs | 60–75 meals | 6–12 months | Annual bulk buyers who roast and freeze a full year's supply. How most New Mexicans do it. |
First-time buyer? Start with 5 or 10 lbs. It's enough to roast a meaningful batch, experiment with recipes, and find out how fast you go through it — most people are surprised how quickly it disappears. You can always reorder during the season (July–October) once you know your household's pace. Returning customers who know they love it: the 25 lb box is the best per-pound value and gives you enough to freeze for the full year.
Portioning tip for freezing: After roasting and peeling, we recommend packaging in ½ cup or 1 cup portions in quart-size freezer bags, pressed flat with excess air removed. Flat bags stack neatly, thaw fast, and make it easy to grab exactly what you need for a recipe. Label each bag with the date and heat level. Properly frozen roasted Hatch chile maintains quality for 12+ months at 0°F. For the full freezing walkthrough, see our roasting and freezing guide.
What Arrives at Your Door
If you've never ordered fresh chile by mail, here's exactly what to expect when the box shows up:
📦 The Box
A sturdy corrugated shipping box sized to your order (5, 10, or 25 lbs). Chile is packed snugly to prevent shifting during transit. No ice packs — fresh unroasted chile ships at ambient temperature and handles overnight transit well.
🌶️ The Pods
Whole, unroasted green chile pods — firm, glossy, and bright green. Depending on the cultivar, pods range from 5 to 13 inches long. You'll notice the distinct earthy, peppery aroma as soon as you open the box. Some pods may have minor field marks or slight color variation; this is normal for fresh-harvested produce and doesn't affect flavor or quality.
📋 What's Included
Chile only — we don't pad the box with leaflets or marketing materials. Everything you need for roasting, peeling, and cooking is on our roasting guide and prep instructions pages, which we recommend bookmarking before your box arrives.
⏱️ When to Roast
Refrigerate the chile as soon as it arrives. For best texture and flavor, roast within 3–5 days. Fresh unroasted chile will keep in the refrigerator for about a week, but the sooner you roast, the better the result — cell walls are firmest and flavor compounds are most concentrated right after harvest.
Approximate pod count: It varies by cultivar (Big Jim pods are larger and heavier; Sandia Select pods are smaller), but as a rough guide: a 5 lb box contains approximately 25–40 pods, a 10 lb box about 50–80 pods, and a 25 lb box roughly 125–200 pods.
Buying Questions & Answers
Which box size should I order?
If you've never ordered fresh Hatch chile before, start with 5 or 10 lbs — enough to roast a solid batch and discover how quickly you use it. If you already know you love it, the 25 lb box is the best per-pound value and yields roughly 15 lbs of usable roasted chile, which lasts most households 6–12 months in the freezer.
What heat level should I choose if I've never tried Hatch chile?
Medium is our most popular heat level and the one we recommend for first-timers. It has a pleasant, building warmth that showcases the flavor of the chile without overwhelming it. If you're spice-sensitive or cooking for kids, go with Mild — you'll get all the Hatch flavor with very gentle heat. Hot and X-Hot are for experienced chile eaters who actively seek spice.
Can I mix heat levels in one order?
Each box ships as a single heat level. To get multiple heat levels, add separate boxes to your cart — for example, a 5 lb Medium and a 5 lb Hot. Many experienced customers do this to blend heat levels after roasting: a ratio of roughly 3:1 Medium-to-Hot is a popular custom mix.
Do you ship fresh chile year-round?
Fresh Hatch Green Chile is seasonal — harvest runs from late July through early October, depending on weather and crop timing. We accept pre-orders starting in January (often at a discount), and ship on Wednesdays throughout the season. Outside the harvest window, our roasted frozen Hatch chile and jarred chile and sauces are available year-round.
How is the chile shipped? Will it arrive fresh?
We harvest on Wednesday mornings, pack that afternoon, and ship the same day. Overnight shipping is recommended and gets your chile to you within 24 hours of harvest. Fresh unroasted chile ships at ambient temperature in a corrugated box — no ice packs are needed for overnight transit. We also offer ShipAid delivery guarantee for peace of mind. For full shipping policies, see our shipping information page.
How many chile pods are in a box?
It depends on the cultivar — larger varieties like Big Jim produce fewer, heavier pods while smaller cultivars like Sandia Select produce more pods per pound. As a rough estimate: 5 lbs ≈ 25–40 pods, 10 lbs ≈ 50–80 pods, 25 lbs ≈ 125–200 pods. You're buying by weight, so the total chile you receive is consistent regardless of pod count.
Can I freeze fresh chile without roasting it first?
Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. Unroasted chile has tough skin that's very difficult to remove after freezing, and the texture degrades significantly. Roasting before freezing transforms the flavor (developing the signature smokiness), makes peeling easy, and produces a much better result when you thaw and cook later. The extra step is worth it.
What if some pods are red or turning red?
Completely normal — especially later in the harvest season (September–October). As the season progresses, some pods naturally begin turning red on the plant. Red-turning pods are fully usable: they roast and peel the same way, and many people prefer the slightly sweeter, more complex flavor of a transitional pod. You're not getting an inferior product; you're getting what the plant is naturally producing at that stage of the season.
How is this different from "Anaheim" or generic "green chile" at the grocery store?
Anaheim peppers are a related but distinct cultivar — typically milder, less complex, and grown in California's Central Valley, which has very different soil and climate than the Hatch Valley. Grocery-store "green chile" (canned or jarred) is usually made from Anaheim-type peppers and processed for shelf stability, which diminishes the bright, roasted character. Hatch chile is grown exclusively in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico, where volcanic alluvial soil, 4,000+ foot altitude, intense sun, and dramatic day-to-night temperature swings produce a flavor profile that hasn't been successfully replicated anywhere else. For a deeper comparison, see our What is Hatch Chile guide.
Is this certified Hatch Chile?
Yes. All our fresh chile is certified by the Hatch Chile Association, which verifies that the product was grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico. This matters because "Hatch chile" is not yet a legally protected geographic designation — some retailers sell Anaheim or Mexican-grown chile under the "Hatch" name. The HCA certification mark is your guarantee of authentic origin.
Not Ready to Roast Your Own?
We'll do the work for you. Our roasted frozen chile ships year-round — same Hatch Valley fields, already flame-roasted and peeled.
Roasted Hatch Chile (Frozen) → · Sauces & Salsas → · Recipes →4.7
★★★★★
Based on 4660 reviews
Customer Photos
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5
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Been buying this product for years now and we love it,always fresh and great flavor Don’t hesitate to get yours
R
★★★★★
A bit on the mild side, but very tasty. Ordering some hot to spice it up a bit
P
★★★★★
I have ordered Hatch Chile's for years and absolutely love them. The chile's are always fresh, high quality, and delivered with care.
D
★★★★★
Fresh Hatch chili peppers are always the best! They arrive quickly and are so delicious! We process them for freezing so we can enjoy them all year! Looking forward to ordering more next year!
