It’s a first.
The Provençal Beekeeping Development Association, Adapi, is publishing this Thursday a 2023 marketing survey for honey produced in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
Decryption, with its director, Pascal Jourdan.
Why this survey?
There were two surveys, one on 2023 production carried out by Ada France, the national technical network head, in response to poor sales of bulk honey recently reported by the profession. This document published on December 15 will feed the arguments of beekeepers, in their discussions with the ministerial cabinet. The Adapi 2023 marketing survey, published this Thursday, was commissioned in the context of the crisis. It assesses the difficulties that beekeepers in Provence encounter in marketing their honey.
What is the situation?
We were surprised by the results, which reveal a very weakening of sales of bulk Provence honey: one in two beekeepers estimates that they have more stock this year. 42% of respondents reported a drop in sales and among them, 67% saw a drop of more than 50%. The survey does not take into account Miel Provence, the only regional cooperative which brings together 70 beekeepers, for whom marketing difficulties are worrying: their barrels are blocked, waiting for buyers.
Provence produces little honey. What consequences for beekeepers?
In 2023, production in Paca is 3,220 tonnes, with an average yield of 19.4kg per hive. This is not much, far behind Hauts-de-France (58kg), Centre-Val-de-Loire (50.3kg) and Grand Est (40.4kg). With climate change, the north, favored by fertile lands, where it rains frequently, is in an advantageous but relatively new configuration, while in the south, plants under water stress do not provide the nectar that would allow bees to make bees. correct harvests. The poor sales crisis adds to the difficulties of our beekeepers. We are worried regarding the sustainability of young farms which have invested in their installation.
