What Is Certified Hatch?
The Certified Hatch program is the Hatch Chile Association's official mark of origin. When a grower, processor, or product carries the HATCH seal, it means the chile at the root of that product was grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico — one of the most geographically specific and climatically distinctive chile-growing regions in the world.
The seal is not self-reported. Certification requires documented verification of Hatch Valley sourcing, reviewed and approved by the Association before a license is issued.
How Certification Works
The process follows four straightforward steps:
- Apply. Submit your application through our online application portal. Growers, processors, and resellers each have a dedicated path.
- Verification. The Association reviews sourcing documentation to confirm Hatch Valley origin. Processors and resellers must show a chain of custody back to certified Hatch-grown chile.
- License. Approved applicants receive a license to use the HATCH seal on qualifying products, subject to labeling and recordkeeping requirements.
- Annual renewal. Certification lasts one year. Licensees renew each season to maintain compliance and continued use of the seal.
Why Certification Matters
"Hatch chile" is one of the most mislabeled foods in the American marketplace. Chile from California, Colorado, Mexico, and elsewhere is routinely sold under the Hatch name with no connection to the Hatch Valley. The confusion undercuts honest Hatch Valley growers and misleads the consumers who pay a premium for the real thing.
The Certified Hatch program gives producers a credible, third-party way to prove their origins and gives buyers a reliable signal they can trust at the point of purchase.
Who Can Be Certified?
Certification is available to three categories of participants:
- Hatch Valley growers — chile farmers operating within the recognized Hatch Valley growing region.
- Processors — companies that process certified Hatch chile into finished or semi-finished products.
- Third-party resellers — brands and retailers selling products made with certified Hatch chile.
Ready to get started? Apply for certification today.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the Certified Hatch seal mean?
- It verifies that chile was genuinely grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico, or that a product was made with certified Hatch-grown chile.
- Who can be certified?
- Hatch Valley growers, processors, and third-party resellers of products made with certified Hatch chile.
- How long does certification last?
- One year. Licensees renew annually.
- Does the seal mean the Association endorses the product?
- No. The mark certifies Hatch-grown origin; it is not an endorsement of any finished product.