Paulita's making products at MCC

In a basketball gymnasium of what was National Guard armory, Paulita's New Mexico began packaging green chile seasoning and other spices about six weeks ago, and it will began jarring its other food products later this month.

Paulita's recently completed its move from Rio Rancho to Tucumcari, where it is manufacturing its New Mexico-based foods in a temporary facility in the armory, now owned by Mesalands Community College, before it builds or finds a permanent facility in the area.

One of the company's principals, Alan Porter, previously said he and his wife Paula moved the company to Tucumcari because the growth potential is in the eastern half of the U.S. market. Porter also grew up in eastern New Mexico and owns a lake home in Logan.

Ingredients were stacked in one section of the former gym, while space in the rest of building was occupied by dehydrators and packaging equipment. A nearby commercial-grade kitchen is being outfitted for jarred products. A refrigerated shipping container sits in the back of the building.

Paulita's New Mexico makes an array of foods using New Mexico green chiles, including chile sauce, green chile stew, seasoning, marinade, salsacue, salad dressing, mac 'n' cheese and salsa. The Porters spent several years developing a method to dehydrate the chiles, making it easier to ship and store for long periods.

Paulita's products are sold in several dozen stores in New Mexico and Texas, and its online store ships nationwide and to several foreign countries. Lowe's Market in Tucumcari recently received a shipment of Paulita's foods.

Porter said he and the other Paulita's principals are talking about doubling the company's production.

"Right now, we're turning down business because we outgrew it instantly, which I knew would happen," he said.

Porter said Paulita's soon will hire up to four employees.

"We've got major things we need to accomplish before December on contacts we have outside the country," he said, explaining Paulita's will need to be SQF-certified for global exports by that time.

He expressed confidence Paulita's will win the certification within that timeframe, as it has earned it before at its previous facility.

Porter said the transition of its manufacturing has been good so far.

"We need to make some modifications we'll need to do in the building starting this spring," he said. "It has no air conditioning, as we discovered in the summer. It was insanely hot in here. The temperature would be over 95 in here with 100% humidity."

Porter said during the hottest days, they began manufacturing at 5 a.m., then quit for the day about 2 p.m.

As for potential supply-chain issues, those haven't materialized, he said.

"The green chile crop has been outstanding ... no complaints there," Porter said. "My biggest concern is tomatoes and onions out of California. Their tomato crop has been dismal again this year. Our winter tomatoes come from California, and our spring tomatoes come from Florida. So we'd better hope for a good spring tomato crop. Everything else has been fine."

Porter said he has no regrets about the company's move.

"We've been very pleased with our experience in Tucumcari so far," he said. "The town's been absolutely wonderful. The local government has been great, and Mesalands has been a wonderful partner. No complaints, and we're very happy here."