The Territorial Significance Of Food Hungaricums: The Case Of Pálinka

Food Hungaricums can be key elements of long-term sustainable rural development innumerous Hungarian regions. The purpose of this paper is to present the territorial impacts of four Pálinka fruit spirits under protection of designation of origin. They are the Pálinka made of plum of Békés, apricot of Gönc and Kecskemét and a grape-based pomace spirit of Pannonhalma. The results indicate that the Hungaricum certification made a significant contribution to the increased reputation of the regions studied and promoted the country’s image to a limited extent, too. However, the investigations also highlight that these endogenous products should be even better exploited in the future. To achieve this aim, further state interventions (e.g. change of legislative regulations, etc.) and specific subsidies would be necessary, since the Hungaricums examined have not been presented meaningfully or even not at all in strategical and regional planning documents.