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By Alfredo Espinola
After years of struggle, agave and mezcal producers in Morelos finally see a long-awaited dream come true: the recovery of the Mezcal Designation of Origin for 23 municipalities in the state.
The announcement was made on July 9 by Governor Margarita González Saravia, who described the achievement as an act of justice for those who have preserved this ancestral tradition for generations. “It was a very thorough process and was achieved thanks to the intervention of the IMPI,” she said, referring to the key role played by the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property.
The process was coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Development and Labor in collaboration with the State Regulatory Improvement Commission and the General Directorate of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Thanks to historical research, endorsed by El Colegio de Morelos, a 278-year-old mezcal tradition in the state was upheld.
More than a certification, a platform for development
Obtaining the Designation of Origin is not only legal recognition; it is also a platform for economic development and the preservation of cultural heritage. According to official estimates, more than 3,000 producers will benefit from financing programs, distillery modernization, phytosanitary campaigns, and agricultural equipment support.
In addition, the state government is already working on the design of a tourist product specializing in the mezcal route, with the aim of attracting visitors and boosting the tourism sector in the region.
A voice from the field
For producers such as Lucía Ema Cazales Quintero, the announcement represents a breath of fresh air for the local agribusiness: “This recognition will undoubtedly boost the economic development of our communities and open up new opportunities for us,” she said.
The official announcement was backed by a multidisciplinary team: the heads of the ministries of Tourism, Economic Development and Labor, Agricultural Development, as well as representatives of Regulatory Improvement and El Colegio de Morelos.
With this step, Morelos not only regains a designation: it reclaims its place on the national and international mezcal map and honors those who have kept alive a tradition that now has a guaranteed future.
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