HATCH, DONA ANA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO

Hatch and Hatch Valley nextles under New Mexico skies in the heart of the fertile Hatch and Rincon Valleys. The temperature averages 78 degrees for the year, with an average of 9 inches of yearly rainfall. Crops grown in the valley include green and red chile, onions, pecans, alfalfa, lettuce, cabbage, sweet potatoes, wheat, cotton among others.

On the labor day weekend, there's chile galore in Hatch at the Chile Festival celebrating the annual chile harvest. A chile festival queen reigns over the two-day event featuring chile recipes and chile rista contests.

The Village of Hatch has a population of around 1,000. Las Cruces is 36 miles from Hatch, Albuquerque 189 miles, El Paso 81 miles, and Truth or Consequences 45 miles.