Beekeepers urge consumers to "Bee Canadian"

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Saskatchewan Beekeepers’ Development Commission is stepping up its efforts to urge honey consumers to buy Canadian by urging them to read the fine print.

Commission President Tim Wendell says, often, it is not as simple as a quick glance at the label.

“We’re concerned that consumers are opting to buy imported honey without realizing it,” said Wendell. “We’re urging consumers to stop and read the entire label before they make their purchase. Just because it says 'Canada Grade No. 1' on the front of the label, doesn’t mean you’re buying Canadian honey.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the federal regulatory agency that sets the standards.

“If a honey producer in another country meets that standard, the producer is allowed to say it is Canada Grade No. 1,” explained Wendell. “However, if you look at the fine print on the back or the side, it indicates the country of origin, such as Australia or Argentina.”

Pierre the Bear, a mascot developed by the Canadian Honey Council for a promotional campaign, recently made an appearance at Canadian Western Agribition on the beekeepers' behalf to promote the "Buy Canadian" campaign.

There are 130 commercial beekeepers in Saskatchewan with more than 100 colonies each. Saskatchewan is a leading producer of honey, accounting for almost 24 per cent of Canadian production in 2005. Figures are not yet available for this harvest, but anecdotal evidence suggests it was a good year.

“Our honey is produced from canola, alfalfa, sweet clovers and borage. Our honey is produced in a clean, pristine environment, free of heavy industry. Our climate and agricultural conditions, combined with beekeepers' management skills, result in Saskatchewan having the largest per capita honey production in Canada, and perhaps one of the highest in the world,” explains Wendell.

Wendell is also appealing to all other commodity organizations to support the beekeepers.

“We ask Saskatchewan farmers who grow grain or specialty crops or who raise livestock to support our efforts because we’re part of the same agriculture industry,” he said. “Remember: Bee Canadian, Eat Our Honey!

For more information, contact:

Tim Wendell, President
Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission
Phone: (306) 742-4363
E-mail: tim@wendell.ca