Analysis of the Supply Chain of Yucatán Habanero Pepper and its Designation of Origin

Abstract

Supply chains have become important tools to study economic relationships because they can be used to understand different processes, agents, and characteristics involved in a product, from its origin until it reaches consumers’ hands. This study aims to characterize the supply chain of Yucatán habanero pepper, adopting a documentary method and field research, in order to examine its operation and the impact it has experienced since the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) was obtained. Two techniques were employed to collect information: (1) documentary research and (2) semi-structured interviews with the actors in the supply chain of habanero pepper. This qualitative study found that intermediaries (not producers, as one might think) benefit the most from the supply chain. Furthermore, the PDO is not being exploited as planned because, as the standards required for the PDO are not met, the logo cannot be used to obtain a surcharge for this important vegetable in international markets. For that reason, a regulatory commission for habanero pepper should be created to establish the foundations to integrate its supply chain, which would cover the Yucatán peninsula because the PDO also includes the States of Campeche and Quintana Roo.