What does real healthy honey really cost?

Bees, symbol of sustainability!

We periodically hear alarms about bee die-offs and the danger these important insects face.

Today I wanted to talk about their work, however, honey.

Honey production in Italy

In Italy, the production cost of one kilo of honey ranges between 9 and 10 euros.

This data was collected by Honey Cost, the first survey that analyzed production costs using a scientifically rigorous method.

This study was conducted by CREA Research in collaboration with the National Honey Observatory.

In addition to collecting technical, managerial, and environmental data, the study was conducted on 434 beekeeping companies to assess technical and economic sustainability and management efficiency.

According to the research, honey yields per hive vary depending on the beekeeping method.

Different types of beekeeping

For nomadic beekeeping, a yield of about 22 kg of honey per hive is estimated, while for stationary beekeeping, the yield is about 12 kg.

In various EU countries, very diversified prices are observed, with values ranging from about 3-4 euros in Eastern European countries like Poland, Hungary, and Romania, to 15-20 euros in Austria, Germany, and Ireland.

In Spain, the largest honey producer in Europe, the estimated price is about 7 euros.

Why are costs so high?

Milena Verrascina, one of the authors of the survey, stresses the importance of understanding the costs of honey production for beekeepers.

This allows them to plan business investments, face challenges and issues, and evaluate the adequacy of insurance coverage.

Cost determination is also a significant parameter for consumers, who are sometimes attracted by lower prices.

Verrascina concludes that high-quality honey, produced by Italian beekeepers who have access to a wide range of environments, essences, and botanical species, and rich biodiversity, cannot have an especially low cost, and therefore caution should be exercised regarding such products.

Costs that reflect quality

Quality and food safety come at a cost, even in the case of honey production, and consumers must be aware of this.

Choosing honey from a safe source, perhaps with direct knowledge of the producers, encourages this market and, indirectly, protects the bees in our areas.

Environmental sustainability inevitably also passes through the economic sustainability of productions. We must always keep this in mind!