Don’t buy honey like this: it is available in almost every market in Serbia, you will easily recognize it!

Photo: Tanjug

The Association of Beekeeping Organizations of Serbia (SPOS) announced that while visiting Serbian markets, they could not find imported honey anywhere. Although they have data that three companies imported 403 tonnes of honey from Moldova and Ukraine this year alone, they have publicly asked where the honey disappeared from imports, how it is not in the markets, and whether the imported honey was correctly declared in subsequent trade. .

– The public seeks answers. We’re waiting, the recently published SPOS announcement states. The organization, by the way, invited national merchants to submit offers for the exclusive sale of honey from its plant, which guarantees, they affirmed, the origin and quality of the honey.

Explaining that in the era of poorer food, Serbian honey is practically the only food that comes to our table without processing, additives and preservatives, the kind that bees produce. However, starting this year, they claim, mass importation of honey from Moldova and Ukraine has begun, often at prices that are simply not possible. For example, honey was imported from Ukraine at 1.15 euros per kilogram, which is a lower price than what is bought from beekeepers there, the SPOS recalled.

In order to protect Serbian honey consumers and beekeepers, the Association of Beekeeping Organizations of Serbia, founded 123 years ago, has introduced good beekeeping practices as a quality standard. Union beekeepers, by raising bees according to this standard, receive bee products of guaranteed quality. No country in the world has implemented as much honey traceability as Serbia, according to this organization.

How do you know you bought homemade honey?

In addition to the only jar that guarantees that the honey was bought from Serbian beekeepers, the system is completed with the “Our Honey” plant, which ensures the placement of honey directly from the beekeepers, without intermediaries.

Entry prices for honey in the markets range from 300 to 500 dinars. Here also the question arises how this is possible. For example, the purchase price of acacia honey is currently 770 dinars, because the honey has its own production and market price. And where are the trade margins of at least 25 percent, the honey tax of 10 percent, the huge purchasing, packaging and distribution costs, they ask in SPOS and they point out that due to low consumer confidence, the turnover of honey through the shops is small. From that, they say, beekeepers, traders and consumers suffer, and only honey counterfeiters benefit.

Photo: shutterstock.com

They explain that buying honey below the real market price means they probably didn’t even buy honey.

If you already care about a mixture of sugar and water, and not a biologically active substance like honey, then buy a kilo of sugar for 60 dinars, add a little water and cook, because why pay for pepper syrup when it is cheap they say. in SPOS.

Beekeepers say that merchants have the opportunity to show responsibility and respect to consumers and dramatically increase honey sales in stores, thanks to the confidence in quality standards.

The SPOS beekeepers honey collection and marketing plant will invest at least one percent of the wholesale price of the jar for the treatment of children with rare diseases, and at least five percent in marketing and promoting their product, which should increase sales and benefit beekeepers. and shops.