Mānuka honey: Beekeepers stockpile as international demand falls

Falling international demand has forced some beekeepers to stockpile mānuka honey, RNZ reports, as increasing costs and pressure see more people leave the industry. Apiculture New Zealand chief executive Karen Kos estimated there was an oversupply of between 15,000 to 30,000 tonnes of honey in storage right now. “That’s a lot, given that we sell around 10,000 tonnes a year.” The demand for New Zealand honey had dropped about 11% over the past year, Kos said.