In 1987, Dave DeWitt, author and chile pepper expert, saw a tabletop display of Old El Paso products at the New Mexico Chile Conference, and the rest is history.

In 1990, Dave and his wife, Mary Jane Wilan, incorporated Sunbelt Shows, Inc. to produce the show, and Mary Jane took on the responsibility for selling exhibitor booth space. Despite some initial skepticism from potential exhibitors, she was highly successful.

The first National Fiery Foods Show was held in 1988 with 47 exhibitors and 500 attendees. Dave and Mary Jane made the decision to go the “Show” route rather than the “Festival” route, and that approach continues today. At the Fiery Foods Show, you’ll find spicy and sweet-heat exhibitors, local and national attendees and commercial buyers and distributors from around the world looking for their next product. This is a Serious Food Show. In 2002, Barbecue was added to increase the depth and breadth of the show.