ABSTRACT
This chapter presents two case studies, both located in the same geographical area, the Utiel-Requena comarca, a comarca is a physically and historically defined territory, grouping together a number of municipalities. The potential that local or regional food systems may have for rural development can vary depending on the strategy that the relevant actors adopt when promoting them. Pacciani distinguish two types of strategy: the supply chain strategy, which implies the building of a strong network of actors around the production and processing of a regional product. Under this approach, the regional product contributes to socio-economic well-being, increasing revenues and employment opportunities. The agro-food production system is of importance for the whole economy of the region of Valencia. The Label of Origin was created in the 1970s in consequence of a national law prescribing that each wine-production area in Spain should have an Origin Designation Label (DO).
