Symbolic of the state’s culture, history and faith, Chimayo chile is a unique species particular to northern New Mexico.  The industry began in the 17th century when a group of hard-working Spanish agriculturalists settled the desert mountain valley.  For 403 years, culinary arts have flourished from intercultural food traditions celebrated by Native Americans and Spanish settlers.  Because of its top-quality, in the 1800’s Chimayo chile acquired legendary status.  By the 1900’s it became famous across the Americas and preferred by chile connoisseurs throughout the world. 

            Santa Fe Institute for Native Hispanic Cultures’, Chimayo Chile Project is a nonprofit entrepreneurial hub for the creation of chile farm micro-enterprise operations.  Its mission is to establish an economic development pathway, which leads to the expansion and long-term preservation of the Chimayo chile industry as a New Mexican cultural asset.  With gratitude to HHS, ACF, OCS, Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals, along with applied chile farm and classroom entrepreneurial training, the project assists participants in starting new plantations.  Chile crop revenues produced during the training period will rollover, and finance jobs and farm services.  Our entrepreneurial strategy is a way of leveraging grant funds, increasing financial resources and operational sustainability for the project and new micro-enterprises.