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No ease in honey shortage
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Economy & Trade

No ease in honey shortage

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Jamaica faces a severe honey shortage due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Melissa, which destroyed nectar-producing trees.
  • Beekeepers report drastically reduced harvests, with some apiaries yielding only a fraction of their usual output.
  • Retail honey prices have surged, with predictions of further increases by Christmas, potentially impacting the industry's viability.

Jamaica is bracing for a significant honey shortage by the end of the year, as the beekeeping industry grapples with the long-term consequences of Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm, which struck last October, decimated trees that provide essential nectar and pollen for bees.

It’s not so much the heat that is the crisis for the bees. Probably the major problem at this time is the impact of the hurricane and the trees that are missing.

— Dennis McKayExplaining the primary cause of the honey shortage.

Dennis McKay, president of the St. James Bee Farmers' Association, explained that the current heatwave, while intense, is not the primary crisis. The lingering impact of the hurricane on the flora is the major problem. "The storm turned down all the trees that provide the nectar and the pollen that support the bees," McKay stated. "They are unable to get the nectar, so they cannot get enough nectar to store that we can get honey."

The storm turned down all the trees that provide the nectar and the pollen that support the bees. They are unable to get the nectar, so they cannot get enough nectar to store that we can get honey.

— Dennis McKayDetailing how the hurricane affected the bees' food sources.

This period, which should be the peak honey-producing season, has seen drastically reduced yields. Beekeepers are harvesting just enough honey to sustain their colonies, with little left for commercial sale. "A man used to get maybe 100 bottles from an apiary, [now] he only gets four bottles," McKay reported, noting that even large commercial operations are struggling to supply basic quantities.

A man used to get maybe 100 bottles from an apiary, [now] he only gets four bottles.

— Dennis McKayIllustrating the dramatic decline in honey production.

The dwindling supply has already driven up prices. Honey that previously sold for J$3,000 per bottle is now found for J$4,800 in supermarkets. McKay warned that prices could reach J$7,000 per bottle by Christmas. He also expressed concern about the authenticity of imported honey, suggesting that some may be manufactured without bees. The industry's recovery is expected to be slow, and another major weather event could further jeopardize the situation.

We are heading into a honey crisis.

— Dennis McKayWarning about the severity of the situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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