Yummy, healthy and hot wins salsa title

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Five hundred sets of taste buds voting in the 15th annual Battle of the Salsas made Cindy Norris a New Mexico State Fair champion for the second year in a row.

New Mexico salsa makers submitted 38 examples of the recipes for fairgoers to sample on Saturday. They chose Cindy's Yummy & Healthy Salsa, Hot as their No. 1 choice.

Placing second was Nana's Authentic Salsa, Medium, from Roswell with the third-place ribbon going to Sadie's Salsa, Not as Hot, from Albuquerque.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture sponsored the contest.

“The people have spoken or, in this case, tasted and voted for their favorite salsa,” said Noreen Jaramillo, NMDA public information officer. “We had a huge turnout; more than f500 people at the fair dropped their ballots into the ballot box.”

The salsas and other New Mexico products are on sale in the NMDA Taste the Tradition Country Store in the Agriculture Building.

The fair is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays this year although some events are still being held including racing at the Downs of Albuquerque.

Fair officials announced all gate admission prices are being dropped to $2 on Wednesday, and Murphy Brothers Carnival will be charging $2 on the midway for games, single rides and some concessions. The fair runs through Sunday.