New Mexico Certified Chile highlights board leadership

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico Certified Chile, a program of the New Mexico Chile Association, is proud to highlight members of its board who guide and support the New Mexico chile industry.

Leadership of the New Mexico Chile Association is comprised of Kari Dominguez, executive director; Ed Ogaz, board president; Joe Wellborn, vice president; Dino Cervantes, treasurer; Frank Garay, secretary; and board members Gene Baca, Ben Etcheverry, and Tommy Rosales.

Ed Ogaz, owner of Seco Spice Ltd., has been a member of the New Mexico Chile Association and its predecessor, the N.M. Chile Task Force for the past 20 years. He is a Hatch Valley native and established Seco Spice Ltd. in 1996. As a generational chile farmer, Ogaz has built Seco Spice Ltd. into one of the largest New Mexico wholesalers of organic and non-organic chiles and spices in the Southwest.

“The New Mexico chile industry has always felt like home,” Ogaz said. “Chile has never been just a crop to me; it’s a symbol of who we are as New Mexicans. Here at Seco Spice Ltd., we honor and carry forward the sacred New Mexico tradition of chile farming by being a part of New Mexico Certified Chile. We couldn’t ask for a better community to be a part of.”

Kari Dominguez, executive director of New Mexico Chile Association, advocates for and represents the interests of the chile industry across New Mexico. As a Deming native with deep roots in agriculture, Dominguez combines hands-on farming experience with her academic background in agricultural economics from New Mexico State University. Her passion for New Mexico agriculture is driven by a lifelong connection to farming, youth agriculture programs and a commitment to strengthening the future of the chile industry.

“I grew up surrounded by New Mexico agriculture, so advocating for the chile industry feels like a full-circle moment,” Dominguez said. “It’s an honor to support the farmers, families and traditions that shaped me. Ensuring long-term viability in the chile industry starts with supporting New Mexico Certified Chile.”

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About New Mexico Certified Chile

New Mexico Certified Chile (NMCC) is dedicated to supporting the NM chile industry by increasing demand for NM chile. We strive to create an atmosphere of chile being for of the NM culture, heritage and pride. Our mission is to cultivate the world-renowned varieties grown only here in New Mexican soil and to protect, promote and advocate for the entire industry dedicated to growing this very special crop. NMCC is a program of the New Mexico Chile Association.