THE MARKET FOR HONEY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume II, Issue 2, 15 February 1911, Page 114

THE MARKET FOR HONEY.

In a report, elated 23rd November, 1910, the Produce Commissioner in London states that the demand for finest-quality honey has been good for a length of time past on the British market. Shipments from New Zealand, besides being inconsiderable, have not been made with the regularity essential to the establishment of a steady trade. Consequently prices realized, while fairly good, have not been so satisfactory as they would have been had traders been assured of a regular and steadily increasing supply. The class of honey most in demand in Britain is one of fine ■ flavour, bright orange or yellow colour, and smooth consistency. Bor New Zealand honey of this description up to 40s. per hundredweight had been the price lately ruling. This is higher than prices for Jamaican, and equal or slightly in excess of those for Californian. Inferior quality is only saleable at much lower prices, as it comes into direct competition with large supplies of secondary honey from other countries, for which prices were then from 255. to 30s. per hundredweight. Several lots of inferior-quality New Zealand honey had been on the market lately, some parcels not being of good colour, while others had a strong and unattractive flavour. New Zealand consignments had also come under notice in which the honey was packed in 2 lb. tins. Consumers in England are strongly adverse to purchasing honey in tins. Honey is invariably retailed in attractive glass bottles or jars. As it would not pay to ship honey so made up, it is necessary that it be shipped in bulk, and packed for sale to the retail trade in glass bottles after being landed. The honey should be runnot sent in the comb. It should be packed in 56 lb. tins, two in a case, with a neat, clean finish. It would also be well to prominently label or brand the cases “ New Zealand.” The highest price for honey is generally obtained in the winter, when the demand is greatest. The English honey crop in the last season was an unusually short one, and supplies were short. Reports from California and Jamaica, the two chief sources of outside supply, indicated that a shortage was also being experienced there. The prospects, therefore, were for high ruling prices for. some time, and shipments made from New Zealand early in the coming season should find a ready sale. Bor the establishment of a satisfactory trade, however, regularity of supply and high standard of quality are essential. Nearly all the large grocery stores, Italian-warehousemen, co-operative wholesale societies, &c., are buyers of honey. Dealers who buy to resell to firms such as these are also in the market, while brokers in whose hands shipments are frequently placed for sale are occasionally purchasers. There are regularly fortnightly sales of honey in London, but for the finer qualities it is usually found that better prices are obtained by private treaty than by auction.