Kettle Foods, Salem, Ore., has added a spicy flavor to its innovative lineup: Death Valley Chipotle. Winner of Kettle brand’s fourth annual People’s Choice campaign, 5- and 9-oz. bags of the new chip now are hitting shelves nationwide.

“The Death Valley Chipotle flavor is inspired by the fiery, dry heat of its desert namesake,” says Michelle Peterman, vice president of marketing for Kettle Foods. Although some consumers might think the variety sounds too hot to eat, “it’s not an overpowering burn,” she adds. “This is the quintessential flavor of summer – it’s fiery, yet smoky, and leaves you wanting more.”

As part of the promotion for the new chip, Kettle Foods has partnered with Death Valley Natural History Association to support the “Death Valley ROCKS” program and its mission of bringing city kids to the park to experience the natural world. The company will donate $1 to the association for every Facebook user who downloads a special Death Valley temperature gauge that monitors desert heat. The first five fans to notify Kettle Foods when the gauge reaches 120°F win free chips for a year.

“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership for us,” says David Blacker, executive director of the Death Valley Natural History Association. “What we love about Kettle Foods’ support is that it helps us raise awareness and support for our national park, and do so in a fun, tasty way.”

Fans can visit www.kettlefoods.com to find out more about the Facebook application and how to help Kettle Foods in its fundraising efforts.