Western Canada is well-known for its agriculture production and expertise.
Who doesn’t enjoy Alberta beef with a side of Saskatchewan lentils?
Perhaps a lesser known fact is that the majority of Canadian honey is also produced in the West. The region consistently provides more than 80 per cent of national honey production.
Many beekeepers have begun extracting their 2016 crop, and so far conditions appear favourable for another big yield. Last year’s bumper crop, the biggest since 2006, saw national honey production increase by more than 10 per cent. Alberta was the biggest contributor; the province saw honey production jump by 7.2 million pounds.
While B.C. produces the least amount of honey, it has more than double the number of registered beekeepers of any of the western provinces. As more and more municipalities in B.C. allow backyard and rooftop hives, the number of hobby beekeepers is growing. Overall production remains relatively stable.
Canada is a net exporter of honey, selling honey to about 25 countries. In 2015, Canada was the 13th largest global exporter of honey (in terms of value of exports). The world’s biggest honey exporters – and Canada’s competition – are China, New Zealand, Argentina and Mexico. Last year, 84 per cent of Canadian honey exports were from western Canada (31 per cent from Alberta, 27 per cent from Saskatchewan, 23 per cent from Manitoba and under 3 per cent from B.C.).
Honey producers in the prairie provinces have been jointly marketing their honey since the 1950s, known today as Bee Maid Honey. The major customers for western Canadian honey are the United States, Japan, and to a lesser extent, China.
The majority of honey exports from Saskatchewan and Manitoba are shipped to the U.S.
B.C.’s main customers are Japan and China. Alberta’s key export destinations – the U.S. and Japan – alternate as its top market.
In addition to the economic value of producing and selling honey itself, bee pollination is estimated to contribute about $1 billion in terms of increased agriculture production in Canada on an annual basis. Another summer of long, sunny days this year should see the beekeeping industry buzzing along into another healthy year of honey production.
– Naomi Christensen is a policy analyst at the Canada West Foundation