As Rosh Hashanah nears honey production in Eretz Yisrael is in full swing, Honey Council head Herzl Avidor confirms. This year, 3,200 tons of quality honey will be produced in Israel, the product of 100,000 hives scattered around the country.

This figure represents a 14% increase in honey consumption as compared to 2010, when 2,800 tons were produced. The increase is attributed to two heavy rains that led to exceptional blossoming of flowers in the spring and summer months.

Israelis will use 4,000 tons of honey, 1,600 in Tishrei alone, 40% of the annual consumption.

To highlight the significance of the rainfall Avidor explains in the 1970s and 1980s they could extract 50kg of honey per bee hive. Last year, the average hive yielded 28kg and this year, 32kg, explaining this is a 2.5 billion NIS annually industry.

A 350 gram jar of honey retails for 21 NIS. The beekeepers receive 18 NIS a kg, 6 NIS per 350 grams.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)