- Authors:
Marta Maireles
Publication:
Fundación ETEA para el Desarrollo y la Cooperación
Year: 2007
Abstract
The interest in the use of geographical appellations has many different reasons: The renown of a particular origin, preservation of particular characteristics and collective self-management of producers, or the legal protection of mentions of origin. These considerations make appellations of origin an object of industrial property to be defended, in this case, against false indications of origin. In a country like Spain, appellations of origin are considered an element of promotion and valorization. They are a rural development strategy, and even as an element of food security guarantee. The final objective of the Café Marcala Denomination of Origin is that this guarantee, which will be enjoyed by both the intermediaries in the chain and the final consumers, becomes a guarantee for the fight against food insecurity of the small coffee producers of the Montecillos Mountain Range.
Numerous economists have studied the advantages of differentiation through distinctive signs of quality, reaching the conclusion that these provide benefits to both the producer and the consumer. The former because his income is increased and the latter because of the increased satisfaction he derives from purchasing and consuming the product. However, not all consumers are able to notice the qualitative differentiation. This would be another of the reasons for the establishment of quality signs such as denominations of origin. Coffee with denomination of origin Café Marcala should be protected, and thus be able to assure excellent quality levels, while at the same time providing symmetrical and differentiated information to buyers and importers of green coffee, so that they can make it available to the consumer.
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