It looks like the cost of that sweet nectar juice known as honey could be on the up after the lovely summer rains have stunted production.
According to bee and honey experts (what a great job!), the drenched month of July left bee colonies hungry and food deprived as they were let unable to forage.
The British Beekeepers’ Association are now reporting that the knock-on effect could result in the price of honey going up by a stinging 50p per 340g pot – as if honey wasn’t already a bit of a luxury buy.
Martin Smith, chairman of the board, advised that the combination of low temperatures and heavy rains over the last few summers have had a significant negative effect on the honey industry.
“Lots of keepers are focusing on rebuilding their stocks of bees rather than producing large honey volumes,” he told The Grocer magazine.
The Welsh Beekeepers’ Association secretary Lynfa Davies, said, “We have had reports where beekeepers have found their colonies to be either starving or very short of food because the wet weather has prevented the bees from foraging.”
The magazine reported that at the moment the average 340g pot of honey cost anything from £2.28 to £4.50 depending on the brand and quality.
Natural England launched a new scheme at the beginning of the week to try and get the public involved in aiding the ailing industry by making urban hives and growing insect-friendly plants to try and save the dying bee population.
