Anita Ausvika
Honey is an Aussie pantry staple. It’s good for sore throats, sweetening up tea and for slathering on toast. Unfortunately, it seems that the cost of honey in Australia is about to go up.
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According to new reports from the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, Aussie beekeepers produce somewhere between 25,000 and 35,000 tonnes of honey each year, and the farm gate price for honey is currently sitting at around $3.70 and $4 per kilogram. Unfortunately, experts predict that the price of honey is set to soar thanks to a shortage of honey production in recent months, due to drought, hot weather and bush fires.
In fact, in May, South Australian beekeepers reported that honey production was down by 50% to 70%, compared to the same time last year. Although many honey producers across Australia keep excess stock on hand in the case of shortages, it seems that even reserve stock is now low, too.
Australia has around 1500 commercial beekeepers and around 800 of those supply Hive + Wellness Australia – the parent company of Capilano honey. Chief operating officer of Hive + Wellness Australia Ben McKee told ABC that beekeepers are now facing the worst honey crop in history due to lack of rain which then affects flowering patterns of trees, which then affects honey production. That means as honey production drops, the price of honey rises.
Our advice? Maybe grab an extra bottle of honey in the groceries this week, and be sure to do your part to help the bees this summer.
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