Honey industry healthy

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 21

Honey industry healthy

The New Zealand honey industry is in good heart, with a strong export demand co-inclding with increased production, according to the president of the Natonal Beekeepers Association, Mr lan Berry, of Hastings. During the 1984-85 season, New Zealand apiarists produced over 10,000 tonnes of honey. It was the first time that such a quantity had been produced and a big rise over the 6,000 to 7,000 tonne annual production average of the last few years. The export availability during 1985 was raised considerably by this good harvest — from a longterm average of around 1000 tonnes to perhaps 2000 or 3000 tonnes — but export demand is still strong, said Mr Berry, who runs a company with production and exporting interests. West Germany is a strong market, particularly for the honey-dew

production from the beech forest areas of the South Island. Registered hives had Increased in. number by about 30 per cent since 1980, he said. As hives consumed a big proportion of their own honey production, a rise in the number in a district might paradoxically lead to a decrease in honey production from that region. But naturally a big lift in production had occurred as a result of the expansion in bee numbers. Exporters were still competing for supplies, he said, and the only danger he could see was that domestic supplies could run short As domestic consumption has in the past accounted for all honey production in some lower yielding seasons, the local market was the most important for all New Zealand beekeepers, Mr Berry said; and a shortfall of supplies was unwise. I The 1985-86 season was

patchy but with “luck” production should exceed that of last year. Bee-keepers were making an adequate living, he said, although in common with much of the rest of farming, the return on capital invested was not good.