Israelis Wait Until the Last Minute
“I set up the apiary in 1968, after the Six Day War, and I have been raising bees and working orchards ever since. I’m a farmer. I took the name Beit HaDvash (“The House of Honey”) from a book I read. Today, I have 230 beehives producing six types of honey: citrus, wildflower, mesquite, hyssop flowers from the Judean Hills and eucalyptus in two flavors: spring and fall. I grow, pack and market the honey myself— to shops that I work with as well as private customers who visit our farm shop. COVID- 19 has not impacted my business so far and I have not suffered as a consequence. Partly this is because the agricultural sector— in which I am included— is considered a vital sector ( meaning it is allowed to keep operating during lockdowns), and also because I am located far from the city, and any time someone needed honey, they were allowed to drive to us, as we sell food products.
“During the lockdowns, the large buyers and stores admittedly didn’t purchase new stocks, but a lot of private customers came to our shop on the farm, which meant that I didn’t experience a nosedive in terms of sales. The advantage of honey is that it can be stored for years without going off. At the same time, I kept looking after the beehives throughout the whole period, relying on friends or occasional workers for support.
“I did not experience a reduction in sales this year for Rosh HaShana, but there was some concern. Israelis being Israelis, they always order today what they need in time for yesterday. Everything is last minute— private customers and stores as one. For small and medium growers such as myself, who rely on selling the produce ourselves, there is a high bar which I see as an advantage— they have no alternative to selling the highest quality of honey. With me, for example, I filter the honey so that it retains the delicious and healthy substances such as pollen and propolis. It is also important for me to note that throughout this period, my accountant has suggested that I apply for grants from the state, and I have refused. I don’t need them.”
The writer is the owner of “Yarkoni Beit HaDvash Apiary”, in Beit Oved. Tel: 053- 8541195