Why It Matters Who You Buy Your Honey From

With so many beekeepers out there and plenty of choice when it comes to honey you may wonder, why does it matter who you buy your honey from?

The short answer is: not all honey is created equal, and neither is every beekeeper operating under the same standards.

Beekeeping, like any form of animal care, comes with responsibilities. In New Zealand, anyone keeping bees is legally required to register as a beekeeper. This ensures proper monitoring and disease control is undertaken, which protects our bee population. Registered beekeepers are assigned a unique ID number and must report their colony numbers and locations annually, as well as arrange for hive inspections by DECA accredited beekeepers, or become accredited themselves.

On top of that, we pay a levy toward managing American Foulbrood (AFB), a serious and highly infectious bee disease. These levies support the national effort to contain and hopefully eliminate AFB - protecting our industry as a whole.

Some beekeepers choose to go even further, by joining our national industry body and following best practice guidelines like the ‘Honey Bee Care Code’ and the ‘Beekeeper Code of Conduct’.

So why not just buy honey from Facebook Marketplace?

We get it - it’s often cheaper, and it might even come from a friendly local or a neighbour down the street. But here’s the thing, when you buy honey from a registered beekeeper, you’re supporting someone who’s doing things the right way.

That means:

• Regular disease checks and varroa mite treatments

• Legal compliance and traceability

• Contribution to industry-wide disease control efforts

• Better bee welfare

All of this takes time, education, and money. So while honey from a registered beekeeper may cost a little more, it also comes with peace of mind. You know where it’s form, how it was produced and that you’re helping ensure healthy, thriving bee populations for future generations.

You’re not just buying honey - you’re backing responsible beekeeping!