"We've had unseasonable weather conditions, and less predictable and shorter flowering seasons, and that is absolutely affecting honey production this year." "I'm new to the industry, but members are saying that things haven't been this bad for 20 years," Kos said. Plant and Food Research pollination scientist Dr David Pattemore said the manuka honey sector had been particularly hard hit. This week, major manuka honey exporter Comvita warned of a 60 per cent shortfall in harvest expectations this season, with just 380 tonnes out of an average annual harvest of 974 tonnes now anticipated. Pattemore expected many newcomers to the booming manuka honey industry would be hurting.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 26, 2017 02:11 UTC