In Ecuador, there are seven products with denomination of origin. The Miske drink is the most recent to obtain certification.
Producers of Pitahaya Amazonica de Palora, of the Jungle Fruit brand, in the Arapicos sector.
Seven Ecuadorian products have the recognition of Denomination of Origin, a certification that gives added value to the products and opens doors in the international market.
The Denomination of Origin is a distinction that identifies a product as originating in the country or a locality in the national territory, when its quality, reputation or other characteristic is attributable to its geographical origin.
The Ministry of Production clarifies that the Denomination of Origin is not a brand. Therefore, it does not confer an exclusive right of use for certain producers.
Any person who meets the conditions established by the ministry can make use of the denomination.
The products that currently have this seal are:
Cocoa top
Cacao Arriba is characteristic of Ecuador.
Miske
The Miske is an alcoholic beverage that is produced in Pichincha, Carchi, Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Bolívar, Cañar, Azuay, Loja and Imbabura.
Montecristi hat
The product is originally from Manabí.
Transkutuku Peanut
Transkutukú peanuts are produced in Shuar and Achuar Amazonian communities in the provinces of Morona Santiago and Pastaza.
Galapagos Coffee
Galapagos Coffee is produced by entrepreneurs located in the province of the same name.
Lojano Coffee of Origin
Lojano Café de Origen is produced in the province of the same name, located in southern Ecuador.
Palora Amazon Pitahaya
This fruit is produced in the Amazonian province of Morona Santiago.
What benefits are there?
The Ministry of Production identifies at least four benefits of the appellation of origin:
- Positioning in the international market.
- Increase in the price of the product and its competitiveness.
- Safety for the consumer on the quality of the product.
- Promotion of tourism and economic development of the region or country from which the product originates.
The Denomination of Origin is a type of Intellectual Property right, included in trade agreements with the European Union, with the European Free Trade Association (known as EFTA), with the United Kingdom and those that are in negotiation, highlights the Ministry of Production.
Opening of markets
The Pitahaya Amazonica de Palora was exported to Canada, the United States, Hong Kong and Spain. After obtaining the Denomination of Origin, in June 2018, more markets were added and now it reaches 56 destinations in the world, with the Jungle Fruit brand.
“This seal gave us an identity and a great international opening, especially for fresh pitahaya,” says Wilson Cruz, president of the Association of Producers and Marketing of Pitahaya and other Palora Products.
In 2022, the Association exported 17 million kilos of the fruit, which in value represents USD 40 million. By 2023, it plans to double that amount because they will start exporting to Peru and they hope to do so to China, starting in June.
Cruz says that it has been difficult to market the fruit at a better price despite having the Denomination of Origin, due to the strong competition with other pitahaya producers.
Currently, the FOB price of pitahaya is USD 10 per 2.5 kilo box.
Miske was added to the list of products with Denomination of Origin on March 21. It is an alcoholic beverage obtained through the distillation of tzawarmishky (penco sap), which seeks to position itself as a product originating from the inter-Andean corridor.
The certificate was requested by the National Association of Productive Chains of Penco and Cabuya of Ecuador (Anagavec), made up of 60 producers. Three of them have already obtained the seal.
The Association produces about 5,000 liters of Miske, which they sell locally. The objective is to take the product to Mexico and the European Union, says Edison Quishpe, president of Anagavec.
How to get the stamp
According to the Guide to Obtain the Denomination of Origin, the following must be identified:
- A different product.
- Delimitation of the geographical area and its name.
- Interested person, or human group, that has a legitimate interest and that is from the geographical place that is intended to be designated with the seal.
- Historical, scientific and technical information available on the product to be protected.
In addition, interested producers must prepare a file that contains the specifications, with the technical specifications of the product, and the regulations for use.
This file is evaluated by the Monitoring Commission of the Inter-institutional System for the Promotion and Protection of Denominations of Origin and Geographical Indications of Ecuador.
After the evaluation, the seal is requested from the National Service of Intellectual Rights (Senadi).
