Portuguese Honey Production

We want to motivate the increase of national production of honey and bee products.

One way of doing this is to combine the quantities available from several beekeepers in order to respond to regular requests for larger quantities. Another is to identify what products exist and their quality in order to value them. Because of this, we went to discover the reality of this activity.

In recent weeks, through our Agronomist Filipa, we have prepared an action plan that involved the contact with beekeepers, Associations and Cooperatives of producers of honey and other bee products in the country.

On the 24th, we were present at the Signing of the Protocol – Dinamização Apicultura Sustentável (Sustainable Beekeeping Dynamization) in Loures, where a Protocol of Cooperation between the Municipality of Loures and the Agricultural Cooperative of Loures was celebrated. The objective of this protocol is to promote and stimulate sustainable beekeeping in the county, and to carry out a survey of available municipal land that are available to be made beekeeping by the beekeepers of the Cooperative. An initiative that is to be commended, which shows a change of mentalities for cooperation.

We found that it is a very delicate market, where there are very different realities in terms of production process and quality of the final product.

From the survey that we have made, we conclude that, at present, there are still more than 60 tons available for sale in bulk, not counting the remaining quantity packed in smaller and different formats. The next production season will be in the spring with Honey available from June / July.

2017 was a very difficult year, given the climatic conditions (high temperatures and low rainfall, leading to low humidity) and fires that led to reduced production of honey, in some areas, up to 60%.

This activity faces many difficulties, where Portuguese products often can not compete with products from other countries of low cost and of lower quality, as in the case of honey from China, which is often added sugar.

Monitoring more closely the needs of this sector, we can motivate the growth of the activity, promoting the high quality of Portuguese honey at national and international level.

Against all odds, our beekeepers are increasingly striving to produce products of the highest quality and distinguishable features. There are several producers with certification of Organic Agriculture, such as the "Mel do Parque" of Montesinho.

Against all odds, our beekeepers are increasingly striving to produce products of the highest quality and distinguishable features. There are several producers with POD certification as is the example of Mel DOP Ribatejo Norte.