Purpose:

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze, from a series of territorial governance elements, the management and harnessing of Café Chiapas and Café Veracruz and its appellation of origin (AO), to identify the potential of these institutional protection figures in territorial development.

Methodological design:

For the analysis of territorial governance elements in appellations of origin, a qualitative multiple case study was carried out focused on understanding the mechanisms of territorial governance. This case study was complemented with a systematic analysis of secondary information.

Results:

Appellation of origin of both coffee varieties showed a consolidated level of institutionalization. The AO constitutes a strategy to reevaluate food assets with territorial embeddedness, having also a normative impact, in which institutionalization implies a series of processes of territorial governance and stakeholder articulation.

Research limitations:

These case studies, even when focusing on the main coffee producing entities in México, do not allow drawing a general conclusion about a social phenomenon; therefore, a deeper analysis including the other food AO in Mexico would be recommended.

Findings:

The establishment of an AO is only the first step towards the recognition of the cultural value of food and the utilization of resources for territorial development.

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