​June Rutherford

​We would like to honor a New Mexico legend, a woman who – for 95 years – has been making her impact on our great state.

June Rutherford is a Hatch chile farmer, mother, grandmother, role model, and – with her late husband Jim – certified their own green chile seed. How many of you have enjoyed “Big Jim Chile” or planted it in your gardens and farms?

Yep. Us too.

This strong and generous woman is a longstanding advocate for the agricultural industry and an expert in all-things-chile. More important, she is a role model to us for how to live well. When asked how to live a long life, June’s advice is simple:
 
“Work hard and eat chile!”