Economic value and production characteristics of table honey

Abstract

<p>Most honey produced globally is classed as table honey, for direct consumption, as distinct from higher value medicinal grade honeys. Economic value of honey was based on domestic table honey price in AU$ derived from Australia (AU) and the United States (US), from 2010-2021 and sourced from AU honey processors and the US Department of Agriculture. For 2021, average AU and US domestic honey values were AU$5.70 and AU$6.53 per kg respectively. Domestic price slopes for 2010-2021 were similar for AU and US at an increase of AU$0.28 per year. Characteristics for honey production (HP) per hive per year were collated from four manuscripts and three AU datasets, presenting a substantial range of means (8.5 to 123.3 kg), and standard deviations (2.6 to 42.8 kg). Variability in HP between studies is attributed to differences in phenotyping, genotype, environment and production scale.</p>