EXPORT OF HONEY.

Shannon News, 24 May 1929, Page 3

EXPORT OF HONEY.

RECORD SHIPMENT READY.

NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND CASES

RAPIDLY EXPANDING INDUSTRY

The largest quantity of New Zealand honey graded at one time, about 240 tons, is at present awaiting shipment in the bulk store of the New Zealand Co-operative Honey Producers’ association, Limited, i:; Stanley street, Auckland, one of the recognise,’ government grading stores. The honey, which is ail of the first grr.de. is packed m large tins holding 00 pounds, and two tins are packed together in a wooden box. The shipment thus comprises some 3830 cases, the bulk of which will be shipped to England early next, week. Tho whole of tho present grading is from the Auckland province, mainly from the Waikato and Hauraki Plains districts, and is pasture honey, largely from white clover.

Bee-keeping .and the exportation of New Zealand honev is an industry which has expanded 'rapidly in recent years. The last quarterly report of the New Zealand; Honey Control board slates the estimate for the current sea son’s export is 1,792,600 pounds of honey, valued at £59,733, as compared with" 2,306,065 pounds for 1928, valued at £77,848.* The estimated reduction in exports is duo to poor yields over all districts with the exception of tho Auckland and Canterbury provinces. The total exports of the current season’s bulk honey up to the end of April was 577.160 uounds, and the total received' for grading for export was 1,455,840 pounds. The best New Zealand honey comes from tho Auckland and Canterbury provinces, which produce large quanti ties of the white variety. Honey varies in colour and flavour according to the flowers from which it is gathered. The principal sources of New Zealand honey are white clover, thistle, cat’sear, pennyroyal and buttercup flowers, all of which give white honey of mild flavour. Honey from the rata and pobutukawa trees is white, but rather stronger than the preceding varieties, and birch honey is also white but of still stronger flavour. Manuka honey is dark and of a strong flavour, similar in some respects to the heather honey of Scotland. Honey from the white clover finds the best market, both locally and abroad. New Zealand honey is in good demand overseas, buyers being found in the United Kingdom, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway. Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Egypt, Palestine, India, Burma and the Straits Settlements. Since only the best quality honey is exported from New Zealand, it is rapidly becoming popular in England, and on the Continent, whore it is iargely taking the place of jams and conserves. In Germany in particular it, is a favourite addition to the morning coffee and rolls.' Honey has a high calorific value, and as a result of its value as a food it is being consumed in increasing quantities in the older countries. Only a portion of New Zealand honey is exported, a largo proportion being consmed in New Zealand. Ihe average New Zealander eats about three pounds of honey a year, over 2000 tons annually being consumed in the Dominion. The' average consump-tion-in Great Britain a decided contrast, each person Consuming only about three ounces annually, and ot this a considerable amount is used m the manufacture of sweets and similar products. •