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Sask. beekeepers buzzing about rebounded honey prices

Apr 27, 2017 | 4:04 PM

Saskatchewan honey producers are buzzing about rebounding honey prices.

Simon Lalonde, president of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, said the price for honey was considered decent three years ago as it was around $2 per pound.

But around 18 months ago, the price started falling quickly.

Lalonde said the price bottomed out to $1.10 per pound over the summer.

“There was a lot of people having a tough time selling honey at any decent price,” he said. “Since then it’s rebounded back up where there’s a lot more optimism in the industry again. Right now it is back up to just above cost of production.”

Lalonde said right now honey prices are in the range of a dollar to $1.50 per pound for commercial beekeepers.

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, the total value of Canadian honey fell from $210.5 million in 2015 to $157.8 million in 2016.

This represents a decrease of 25 per cent.

Another challenge is competing on a global market. An online petition by Canadian beekeepers last year called on Billy Bee, the country’s largest honey packer, to stop importing cheaper honey from China and Argentina. 

Globally, China is the top honey exporter followed by New Zealand and Argentina.

Lalonde said adulterated honey (a term referring to the purity or quality of the honey) can be a big problem for local producers especially since a lot of it is coming from countries like China.

“A lot of people who buy that honey are also the people who buy high quality Canadian honey,” he said. “If adulterated honey is coming into any of our markets, it doesn’t have to be just the Canadian market but also the American market at a substantially lower price then there’s not much of a demand for our premium honey.”

Traditionally, the biggest concern for beekeepers has been more about protecting the bees than worrying about prices. Lalonde said there’s a lot more work to ensure a hive is healthy and strong and isn’t impacted by disease and mites.

“Beekeeping has changed compared to 30 years ago or 50 years ago when you would put boxes on and get honey,” he said. “With some of the diseases out there and things like the mites and changing forest conditions, it’s becoming a lot more important to monitor bees a lot more closely.”

Will Stafford, the co-owner of Forest Fringe Orchards in the Prince Albert area, said it’s up to local beekeepers to inform customers about honey quality. He argues nothing tastes as good as Saskatchewan honey.

“If it doesn’t say 100 per cent Canadian, draw a big question mark on it,” he said. “We’re just at that break-even point. If you [a honey producer] have debt, you are not doing well. If everything is paid off, you’re OK. You can make it through this low spot.”

Stafford said his business is doing all right because he doesn’t sell his honey commercially. Instead, he focuses on making mead, which is then sold to make wine. He explained this lets him get more out of his honey.

According to a 2015 report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatchewan had roughly 955 beekeepers, which represents 11 per cent across Canada. Ontario and British Columbia have the most beekeepers representing 30 per cent and 28 per cent, respectfully.

In terms of colonies on 2015, Saskatchewan has nearly the same as Ontario at 101,000. Alberta leads the pack with the most colonies at approximately 295,000. Albert was also the biggest producer of honey at 42,755 pounds.

Saskatchewan beekeepers produced 18,837 pounds last year.

 

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter