Sweet News for Honey as Consumption Rising in United States

[BeeMaster2]

USDA Estimates Annual Consumption of Nearly One Pound of Honey Per Person
(National Honey Board News Release)

Firestone, Colorado ? According to latest data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), honey consumption continues to rise in the country with an average of nearly one pound (0.9 pound) of honey being consumed per person compared to 0.5 pounds consumed per person in 1990.

?It is exciting to see more Americans continuing to add honey to their daily diet,? said Margaret Lombard, chief executive officer of the National Honey Board.  She added, ?While our industry continues to struggle with hive loss, we have been successful in reaching consumers with our message that honey is a pure natural sweetener which clearly appeals to consumers at a time when they are searching for authentic foods.  In addition, when consumers purchase honey, they are not only helping to support the beekeeper, but they are also contributing to the welfare and survival of the honey bees.?

The USDA report found that consumption of all caloric sweeteners has been falling for the last 15 years while per capita consumption of honey has been increasing over the same time period. Domestic net production of honey was once at an annual average of 167.9 million pounds in the early 1990s but has now fallen to an average of 106.7 million pounds over the last seven years.  Honey bees are critically important to agriculture as pollinators contributing over $14 billion to the value of U.S. crop production.

The increased popularity of honey is due to the fact that people are finding pure honey to be irresistible.  In fact, similar to wine and olive oil, honey tastings are now being held at farmers markets, restaurants and grocery stores to showcase the more than 300 unique kinds of honey produced in the United States ranging from diverse floral sources as Clover, Eucalyptus and Orange Blossoms.  There are lighter colored honeys which are mild in flavor, while darker honeys are usually more robust in flavor.  In addition, honey is in high demand in the growing artisan food category for use in a range of diverse items such as pastries, ice creams, cheese and craft cocktails.  It has also become wildly popular with beverage manufactures including craft brewers and ready-to-drink beverages.

[GSF]

Thanks Jim, encouraging news. I've seen that with my own eyes somewhat. I know one or two people who have quit using sugar to sweeten their coffee and turned to honey instead.

[BeeMaster2]

I have several customers who do that. I met one family that did not buy sugar of any kind and they used a lot of honey.
Jim

[Nugget Shooter]

Here too, my egg customers want honey and are frustrated that there will be none for a while.... They are not eating white sugar anymore and one lady only uses honey to back and says breads etc. do not dry out as fast.

[Caribou]

A bakery customer informed a local bakery that the honey they were selling was labeled as coming from Honduras.  The bakery contacted our bee club and asked if there were members that could provide local honey.  Not only are people eating more honey but there is a demand for local honey and any health benefits.

[rober]

I was really surprised when I read that N. Dakota led the U.S. in honey production considering the shorter growing season. I wonder what they grow there that produces so much honey??  but I have to ask how much local honey is there in alaska? talk about a challenge to overwinter!

[Caribou]

I have no idea how much honey we make in Alaska.  Somebody said there were a about 120 at our last meeting.  I would expect our members showed up from a radius of forty-five minutes or an hour. 

One bee retailer is the president of the group.  There are two other bee retailers locally and still more around the State.  I know there are other groups and that many are not members of the group I belong to.

I attended a class with fifteen or twenty new beeks and I know of others that teach. There was also a great symposium in Palmer with a few hundred attendees.  Michael Bush was a speaker so perhaps he has better numbers.  Many bee keepers around here did not attend.

This is a long winded way to say that I don't have a clue but there are more than I would have guessed even six months ago.

[Acebird]

Here too, my egg customers want honey and are frustrated that there will be none for a while....

Bill, your friends on beemaster's could sell you honey and then you could send it to them.  No need for your customers to wait.  Just saying...

[Nugget Shooter]

Never even thought of that Brian.... is there a place here where you folks list you honey? I know I should look around more, but....