Strong Orange Blossom crop; Late spring in US and Canada may hurt yields
In spite of some rough weather a fairly decent Orange blossom honey crop was made in Florida. Most of this honey ends up in retail packages. Quality again is very good, similar to last year’s wonderful honey. Mixed news as usual about honeybee health. A very late spring in the northern USA and Canada might hurt hive development if it continues. South American crops appear to have been at least average.
Prices rise as crackdown on smuggled chinese honey continues
2010 Import data confirms our Feb. speculation. Imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan were virtually zero for the months of Nov/Dec. In the previous 10 months they had collectively averaged 6 million lbs per month. Massive crop failure?
Perhaps. But, it is more likely that Customs has come to realize, and acted upon the fact that these countries are not capable of such high levels of production and were likely channels for smuggling of product from China to avoid duties.
The market will be reacting to this situation for some time. Prices are up, no surprise, with white honey being the most effected at this time as the above countries were allegedly “producing” a lot of white honey for the market. Now the value of the Canadian dollar has risen above par and raises the cost of white honey from Canada, one of the industries largest suppliers.
Crackdown on circumvented honey
There have been some significant developments in the honey world in the last couple of months. Imports from countries that we long have suspected were not legitimate exporters have been reduced from a flood to a trickle. Apparently US Customs now feels that it can require the anti-dumping duties that apply to Chinese honey to imports from these instant exporters. That effectively puts an end to imports from the effected countries. At least 60 million lbs of honey was imported from these countries in 2010. That is a big hole to fill from other exporters who begin 2011 with very little carryover. Hard to see prices doing anything but rising given the current situation, or is there another circumvention model out there?
Southern hemisphere crops look to be average, but early cold weather in India has already hurt some honey crops. India will likely be the largest exporter of honey to the USA for the foreseeable future.
Honey Bee concerns
Colony collapse remains a problem for beekeepers though some new ideas on causality and potential treatments give beekeepers hope. One encouraging point is that “natural” treatments are among the most effective. That is good news for the bees, the beekeepers and the honey consumer.
The approval of GMO herbicide tolerant alfalfa has to give beekeepers concern. The miscellaneous bloom in hay fields (clover, dandelion, vetch etc) are very important to the development and production of the bee hive. If a significant portion of hay acreage is sprayed with herbicide it has to hurt honey production. The tolerant alfalfa itself will yield honey if it is allowed to bloom, but this comes later in the summer and good farming practice results in the hay being cut just before it blooms. It will likely be several years before this impact can be assessed.
We’ve got a semi-load of good empty honey barrels available. Call for pricing and delivery.
Almond bloom is opening in southern California and the 2011 beekeeping year is underway. We’ll be buying honey in all parts of the USA and paying beekeepers with the same reliability we have for 35 years. On time, as Promised. Pure Sweet Honey Farm has never bought or sold honey from Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea or The Phillipines. Sell your honey to Pure Sweet one of the packers that hasn’t sold you out for circumvented honey at prices 50% below the real market. Call me, Bill, at 1-800-355-9601 anytime to discuss market or selling your crop. Email psh@chorus.net.
Regular trucking to and from California and Florida.