THE CULTURAL SEAL THAT IS SWEEPING AGUASCALIENTES

After years of work and effort, Aguascalientes obtained the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for its Aguascalientes Mezcal. This is the opportunity for the seven municipalities that were recognized with this distinction to grow their industry, tourism, business and culture.

At the same time, the Mezcal Route will be opened, which will attract tourism and leave an economic spill in the seven municipalities: Asientos, Calvillo, Cosio, El Llano, Rincon de Romos, Tepezala and the state capital.

There are currently more than 1,900 certified hectares of agave and maguey, and the government will seek to double this figure by providing support to producers in the areas of training, equipment and certification.

Why is a PDO so important?

The Protected Designation of Origin is a distinctive and a certification given to certain products for being originating from a specific geographical region, as this is a guarantee of quality provided by the natural and human factors of the region.

Normally the name of the PDO is comprised of the name of the product and the name of the place where it is produced. This allows its producers legal protection against the production of the same product in other geographical areas.

At the same time, it also allows the producer to havean added value that influences the final price of the product.

How to obtain a PDO?

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI byits acronym in Spanish) is the highest authority in charge of regulating everything related to industrial property, including Protected Designation of Origin.

Obtaining an PDO is not an easy task, certain processes must be followed, which in many cases can be very slow and costly. They mainly require producers to justify why they want an PDO, since when the product was produced in the geographical region and what are its characteristics or process that makes it unique to the region.

Once the PDO is granted, the holder is not the producer who requested it, but the Mexican state. These distinctions are usually requested by municipal or state governments or by a producers' association.

Our country currently has 18 Protected Designation of Origin: Chiapas Amber, Morelos Rice, Bacanora, Grijalva Cocoa, Chiapas Coffee, Veracruz Coffee, Pluma Coffee, Charanda, Yahualica Chile, Yucatán Habanero Chile, Ataulfo Mango from Soconusco Chiapas, Mezcal, Olinalá, Raicilla, Sotol, Talavera, Tequila and Papantla Vanilla.

Rice from the state of Morelos

A product that has fought hard to obtain its Protected Designation of Origin was the rice from Morelos. It is a long grain rice, with a spongy but not sticky texture, capable of absorbing flavors very well. It is widely used in paella.

For decades they faced several difficulties that prevented the state from achieving this certification. One of their main difficulties was the already registered trademark “Arroz Morelos”. The producers mentioned that the rice of the trading company did not have the necessary quality, and they required the name Rice of Morelos.

Years later the trading company closed its doors and declared bankruptcy, which allowed producers in 2012 to obtain the PDO, known as Rice from the state of Morelos.

22 municipalities were recognized with this distinction:  Amacuzac, Axochiapan, Cuautla de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Ciudad Ayala, Coatlán del Rio, Emiliano Zapata, Jantetelco, Jiutepec, Jojutla, Jonacatepec, Mazatepec, Miacatlan, Puente de Ixtla, Temixco, Tepalcingo, Tetecala, Tlaquiltenango, Tlaltizapan, Xochitepec, Yautepec de Zaragoza and Zacatepec de Hidalgo.

A Protected Designation of Origin will always be considered as a new beginning for the state, since they provide greater opportunities to the productive sector in Mexico (industry, artisans, country side, traders, producers).

This not only represents a seal of quality or authenticity, but is also considered as a protection to the culture of the region that will pass from generation to generation.