M.A. & Sons, Inc., a family owned and operated corporation, began its chile processing operation in October, 1987 as a Minority (Hispanic) Woman Owned business.  Mary Alice Garay, along with her three sons, Frank, Randy and Patrick, started the operation by purchasing a small three tunnel dehydrating business from her father.  The young sons had spent many hours helping their grandfather in the plant and wanted to continue the business to process and dehydrate red chile.  Under the excellent capability and careful management provided by the family, the corporation has grown to a producer of a variety of red chile products.  The current 43,000 square foot, sixteen tunnel dehydrating facility provides capacity for over five million pounds of production during the processing season. 

The plant is located at the base of the Caballo Mountains in Arrey, New Mexico.  Arrey is located approximately 55 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico in what is know as the farming area of the Hatch Valley.  The Hatch Valley's claim to fame is "The Chile Capital of the World" because in this area is raised the chile with a taste unmatched by any other.  The processing plant enjoys ready access to the most flavorful chile grown in the United States.

The dehydrated chile in the form of whole pods, powders, and crushed chile is sold in bulk to large spice companies who further refine and package the chile for sale in use for spices.  The facility is Kosher certified for all products produced.

Sierra Cold Storage, LTD.

In February, 2000, Sierra Cold Storage Co. Ltd. was established as a partnership of Mary Alice Garay and Frank, Randy and Patrick, her sons.  A cold storage facility with a blast freezer and cold storage was constructed to store the bulk chile that is held in inventory to better preserve the color and flavor.  The 12,500 square foot cold storage facility is located in the same area as the dehydrating plant in Arrey, New Mexico.  The addition of the freezing capability has allowed Sierra Cold Storage to enter the enchilada sauce, red chile puree market.  The sauces and purees produced are of the highest quality with an additional step in the process to remove the stems, seeds, and skins to produce a product "sin pellejo" for the discriminating taste of the chile lovers of the world.  The puree is packaged under the label New Mexico Red Chile Puree "Homestyle" "Sin Pellejo."  Sierra Cold Storage is fully licensed under the State of New Mexico and all products are Kosher certified. 

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