Honey Industry.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1922, Page 3

Honey Industry.

IMPROVING SYSTEM OF EXPORT,

AUCKLAND, February 19.

Creditable enterprise lias been displayed in past years by those connected with the honey industry in the Dominion, and New Zealand can claim credit for being the first country to introduce a system of Government grading for honey. By this system the Government grader issues a certificate of grade, and this certificate is used in soiling the produce in place of samples. Recently, however, it has been felt that a more elaborate system w'as needed for foreign expoit, which would describe particular gjrades of honey more completely than the pretseut certificate system.

With the object in view, a conference between three Government graders^—Messrs B. V. Westbrooke, E. A. Eiarp, and F. A. Jacobsen—was held at the packing factory of the New Zealand Co.-op. Honey Producers’ Association, when various proposed improvements were considered. One of the chief defects of the certificate system is its failure to adequately describe the exact colour of various samples. While two samples may be of equal grade ,the colour may vary accordingly to the flora from which the honey lias been obtained It is now proposed, inter alia, to grade the honey into five colour class—water white, white, light amber, medium amber, and dark-—each of these classes will be ■ represented by a. small oblong of glass exactly corresponding in colour with the honey. The exact colour of the honey may thus be sent to overseas buyers, together with the grade certificates, thus giving them the fullest description of the produce without having to revert to the old and unsatisfactory method of sending

samples. ! New Zealand honey is recognised as | superior to any other in the world, the j only other honey which even approaches-; it being sent from California. This use- ; ful reputation is being carefully j guarded by those responsible for tho ; export of the produce, and nothing | below an 80 grade is permitted to leave I the country. New Zealand honey is now exported to all parts of the world, ; including so remote a part as Klang in 1 the Federated Malay States, England being, of course, the chief market. The chief object at the present time of those mostly concerned with the honey export trade is to still improve the grading and quality of the New Zealand article, and several grading depots have been established throughout the Dominion, while as an indication of the progress of the industry it may also be mentioned that a large packing house for Now Zealand honey has l>een recently opened in London. Bee-farmers are at the present time in the fortunate position of being able to market their produce in London without the services, and, incidentally the charges of the London middleman, a distinction which is not enjoyed by any other farm producers. NEW GRADING REGULATIONSIn future no honey is to he exported from New Zealand until it has been graded by officers of tho Department of

Agriculture. New regulations prescribe the method of packing, and lay it down that no unregistered export brand shall be used. For the purpose of grading, honey will bo divided into five classes according to colour—viz., water white, white, light amber, medium amber, and dark. Tlip maximum number of points that ma.y be allotted in respect of the several qualities is as follows: —Flavour, f>G; colour 10; condition, 15; grain or texture, 15; freedom from scum and froth, 10; total, 100. The following will ibe the standards upon which the grades of honey will be determined; —Special grade: 94 to 100 points, both inclusive. A or prime grade; 88 to 93. J points, both inclusive. B or good grade; 80 to 87Jpoints, both inclusive No charge will bo made for grading, except in the case of honey withdrawn from the grading-store after having been graded and approved for export, in which case a charge of one-tenth of a penny per pound will be charged.