Honey market under pressure

Various factors mean much of what’s on the shelves is not the pure product

It affected the supply of maize meal, meat and potatoes – and now it seems the drought has played a hand in the availability of honey.

Grant Field, chief executive of Fedgroup, said SA was currently experiencing a honey shortage.

Field said the shortage could in part be blamed on the recent drought and associated heat , which had had a negative impact on the bee population.

A fourth factor was the dwindling number of local producers as opposed to an increased demand for honey.

Field said local producers made about 2,000 tons of honey per year, with the local demand reaching 8,000 tons.

A total of 6,000 tons is imported into the country – but more often than not it is a poor substitute of blended honey which is more syrupy.

“The global demand for honey, not just in SA, has increased substantially over the last 10 years and unfortunately not much honey is produced locally,” Field said.

“I think the main reason is that there are barriers to entering the market and it’s quite costly.”

Field said the honey market was largely made up of smaller producers, however there was a lack of access to finance.

“So you don't get those commercial scale type of benefits. That’s the situation in SA right now. In fact there is not much honey produced in the whole of Africa. We're now getting honey from all over the place and we don’t know what’s in that honey either.”

www.mybeeline.co states that adulterated honey contains additives such as glucose, dextrose, molasses, sugar syrup, inverted sugar, flour, and corn syrup.

Mike Miles, chairperson of the South African Bee Industry Organisation, said a limited availability of food was also to blame for the dwindling number of bees.

“I don’t think the situation is as dire as some think. It does seem we are producing less honey but I think that's just because there is a greater demand for it,” he said.

Nigel Connellan, managing director of Western Gruppe, which runs 13 Spars around East London, said although the province had yet to feel the effects of the shortage, consumers should be vigilant when buying honey.

“One needs to look on the label. The only ingredient listed should be honey, nothing else,” he said.

6,000 tons is imported into SA – but more often than not it is a poor substitute of blended honey

Picture: MARK ANDREWS DRIPPING GOOD: Part-time beekeeper Chad Symons, right, shows how a hive removal is done. In this instance, more than 24kg of raw honey was extracted from the ceiling of a home in Gonubie.