# The Hatch Chile Association (Certified Hatch)

> The Hatch Chile Association is the certifying body for authentic Hatch chile grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico. It operates the Certified Hatch program, which independently verifies that chile — and products made with it — genuinely originates from the Hatch Valley. "Hatch" denotes geographic origin in the Hatch Valley, not a pepper variety.

## Key facts

- **Organization:** The Hatch Chile Association, a grower-led organization based in Hatch, New Mexico (PO Box 1294, Hatch, NM 87937; (575) 635-4680; info@certifiedhatch.com).
- **What "Hatch chile" means:** Chile peppers grown in the Hatch Valley of southern New Mexico along the Rio Grande. The name refers to where the chile is grown, not to a single cultivar.
- **The Certified Hatch seal:** An origin mark verifying Hatch Valley sourcing. It is not an endorsement of any finished product's quality or formulation.
- **Who can be certified:** Hatch Valley growers, processors that use certified Hatch-grown chile, and third-party resellers of products made with certified Hatch chile.
- **Certification term:** One year; certificants renew annually.

## Certification program

- [Certification overview](https://certifiedhatch.com/certification/): how the program verifies Hatch Valley origin.
- [For growers](https://certifiedhatch.com/certification/for-growers/): $10/acre (min $250/year).
- [For processors](https://certifiedhatch.com/certification/for-processors/): $1/ton of processed product (min $1,000/year).
- [For third-party resellers](https://certifiedhatch.com/certification/for-resellers/): volume-tiered, $250–$1,000/year.
- [Apply for certification](https://certifiedhatch.com/apply/).
- [Certified producer directory](https://certifiedhatch.com/directory/).

## Learn

- [When is Hatch chile season?](https://certifiedhatch.com/learn/when-is-hatch-chile-season/): early August through late September, peaking in late August.
- [Learn hub](https://certifiedhatch.com/learn/): guides on Hatch chile and certification.

## About

- [About the Association](https://certifiedhatch.com/about/): mission, board of directors.
- [Trademark history & the lawsuit](https://certifiedhatch.com/lawsuit/): the Association's HATCH certification mark and the 2017 settlement.
- [Contact](https://certifiedhatch.com/contact/).