Both retailers and consumers are finding some issues over getting supply of good quality manuka honey, especially now in the later part of 2012.
Back at the beginning of the year, the New Zealand summer was rather a wet one. And bees don't really like going out flying and foraging for nectar when it is raining. Now the manuka plant only flowers for approximately 6 weeks, and when this coincided with more than normal rain last season, it has had quite an impact on the harvest of manuka honey this year. Different areas and different beekeepers have been affected at varying levels, but several have reported the quantity of their honey production to be down 40% compared to previous year.
The lower harvest, especially of good, credible quality manuka honey, has led to some supply issues, and together with the still growing worldwide interest has led to some quite noticeable price increases.
This also leads to increase risks of inferior honey, that does not actually contain the renowned extra antibacterial property, being misleadingly sold to meet the demand from the market.
It is probably important more than ever for both retailers and consumers to do some further research themselves on which are the most reputable brands. And they may need to accept some periods of 'out of stock' for affected products.
Hopefully the coming summer in New Zealand will be more normal weather wise, and the honey harvest can get back to previous levels. It should be remembered though that it is a natural product, and like vegetables and other crops will always be subject to the variances of mother nature.
No comments:
Post a Comment