ROCAMBOLE FROM LAGOA DOURADA: AN ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOGNITION AS A GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION

Resumo

The Rocambole de Lagoa Dourada recently became nationally recognized by virtue of the federal law, which granted the municipality of Minas Gerais the title of “Capital Nacional do Rocampole”. However, the real challenge for the region is to seek recognition as a Geographical Indication (IG), since it is a product with unique and traditional characteristics that are specific to the region, guaranteeing its authenticity and quality. The main objective of this work is to analyze the possibility of recognizing Rocambole de Lagoa Dourada as IG and verify the attributes of the sweet in the region, analyzing its reputation according to the criteria proposed by SEBRAE for assessment of the potential and the construction of a Geographical Indication process; verifying what kind of protection would be appropriate: Indication of Origin (IP) or Denomination of Origin; identifying the methods used for the production of the rocambole; and investigating the socio-economic factors of the product. The methodological procedures used were developed through literature review techniques, documentary analysis, and semi-structured interviews conducted with the manufacturers of Rocambole de Lagoa Dourada and the association. As a result, it turns out that there are favorable points for requiring an IP-based IG process for the Rocambole de Lagoa Dourada. However, there are still challenges to be overcome and measures to be implemented to strengthen sugar protection, promote quality, and add value to the region. Especially in terms of strengthening governance, both through the expansion of the representative association of producers and by the union and collaboration between the producers of rocambole.