THE HEART BEHIND THE HEAT New Mexico Chile Association By Taylor Lauson, Communications Manager
over 30,000 visitors each year. Through his company, Seco Spice, Ogaz carries on his family’s tradition of chile farming. Dominguez, also a New Mexico native, comes from a family of farmers and knows firsthand the importance of advocating for growers. She describes NMCA as not just an industry group, but a vital voice for chile farmers at both the state and federal level. It’s also a gateway to programs like the New Mexico Certified Chile program, which she says is more than just a marketing advantage. “It’s a meaningful way to protect the authenticity and heritage of our state’s most iconic crop,” Dominguez explained. “The certification helps ensure that only true New Mexican grown chile carries the name, giving members a unique opportunity to build consumer trust, celebrate regional pride and stand out in a competitive marketplace. For NMCA members it connects their products to the quality, culture and the unmatched
Few crops define a region like chile does New Mexico—and for nearly two decades, the New Mexico Chile Association (NMCA) has worked to protect, promote and advance the farmers behind it. In a state that proudly calls itself the “Chile Capital of the World,” the love for chile runs so deep, it even inspired the official state question: “Red or green?” Founded as a nonprofit organization, NMCA was created to reinstate the region as a global leader in chile production, processing and innovation. Its members—growers, processors, producers and other related businesses—are united in their commitment to preserving and elevating the state’s iconic chile industry. At the helm are President Edward Ogaz and Executive Director Kari Dominguez. Both are rooted deeply in New Mexico agriculture and share an unwavering passion for protecting the chile legacy. You could say Ogaz is a man who has chile running through his veins. He comes from a long line of Hatch Valley farmers dating back more than 100 years. His father and grandfather helped co-found the now-world renowned Hatch Chile Festival, an event that draws "These farmers are the heart and soul of chile production in New Mexico. They’ve spent decades perfecting their craft and keeping our history alive."
30 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com September | October 2025
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