Yucatán Unites to Protect Habanero Pepper Origin

Mérida, Yucatán — The states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo have joined forces to secure the designation of origin for the habanero pepper through the signing of the Agreement for the Application of Designations of Origin. The agreement was formalized between the Government of the Maya Renaissance and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).

Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena led the Regional Work Table with IMPI and the economic secretariats of the three peninsula states. The meeting aimed to establish the foundation for protecting designations of origin and strengthening the productive identity of southeastern Mexico.

Establishing a Regulatory Council

“The purpose of this meeting is crucial: to lay the groundwork for the creation of the Peninsular Council for the Regulation of the Habanero Pepper,” Díaz Mena stated. “This body will allow us to secure seed capital necessary to obtain accreditation as a certification and inspection unit before the relevant authorities.”

He emphasized that the initiative is not merely technical or bureaucratic. “This is about regulating, protecting, and promoting a product born from our lands, one that holds immeasurable value in international markets,” he added.

The meeting, held at the Yucatán Siglo XXI Convention Center, outlined plans to finalize the accreditation of the Peninsular Council for the Regulation of the Habanero Pepper within six months. Díaz Mena highlighted that the initiative will implement traceability mechanisms, origin certification, and food safety standards, opening new opportunities for producers in domestic and international markets.

Protecting Authenticity in Global Markets

The governor shared an anecdote from a recent visit to Mercamadrid, Spain’s largest market, where he encountered habanero peppers imported from Morocco. “We tasted them like grapes because they had no spice at all. They were large and visually appealing but lacked the signature heat of Yucatán’s habanero. This underscores the importance of bringing our authentic products to these markets, which are eager for what Latin America has to offer,” he said.

Government and Institutional Support

Díaz Mena acknowledged the support of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who endorsed the Maya Renaissance project during her campaign. “Her vision is to create what she calls ‘shared prosperity,’” he noted.

Santiago Nieto Castillo, Director General of IMPI, emphasized the strategic alliance’s role in expanding the institute’s services to the region. “Increasing the number of patents is essential to building a stronger technological ecosystem,” he said.

Geovanna Campos Vázquez, head of the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (Secihti), described the working groups as a platform for regional collaboration. “Designation of origin is a tool that provides justice, certainty, and cultural value to our territorial products,” she stated.

Also present were Yucatán’s Secretary of Economy and Labor (SETY), Ermilo Barrera Novelo; Secretary of Rural Development (Seder), Edgardo Medina Rodríguez; and the economic development secretaries of Campeche and Quintana Roo, José Luis Lavalle Maury and Paul Michelle Carrillo de Cáceres, respectively.

The agreement marks a significant step in safeguarding the habanero pepper’s legacy while positioning it as a driver of regional economic growth.