A veteran beekeeper has barely made enough profit as he watches prices of New Zealand honey continue to plummet.
John Berry, a third generation Hawke's Bay apiarist, with more than 50 years experience with bees, has had an “OK” season, but is doubtful he’ll make a profit this year from clover or bush honey.
“Nowadays, beekeeping is just so cut-throat. Most of the new corporate beekeepers have already gone into places where there were already bees and beekeepers. There’s no love lost between anybody.”
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John Berry, a third generation Hawke's Bay apiarist, with more than 50 years experience with bees, has had an “OK” season, but is doubtful he’ll make a profit this year from clover or bush honey.
“Nowadays, beekeeping is just so cut-throat. Most of the new corporate beekeepers have already gone into places where there were already bees and beekeepers. There’s no love lost between anybody.”
The 'cut-throat' industry of New Zealand beekeeping
It costs about $7 to produce a kilo of clover honey, beekeepers are lucky to get $4.
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