Organic Honey in Canada
If you are a savvy shopper you likely know that buying raw unpasteurized honey is superior to regular old commercial honey.
But you may have noticed that certified organic honey is hard to find. And when you do find it, you are probably wondering what the heck does that mean! I wondered the same… until I did the research.
So here is the scoop!
Organic Honey in Canada
Currently there are only a handful of certified organic honey products in Canada, and just two in Ontario. According to the Ontario Beekeepers Association, while many beekeepers practice organic management.
Few can meet the rigorous demands of the certification process, namely the requirement for a 3 km radius surrounding the hive of pesticide-free foraging area for the bees. Beekeepers are often faced with conventional farms and/or other industries within that radius.
If you are wondering why pesticides would be used for honey bees, Varroa mites are one example of a parasite that can infest honey bee colonies and shorten the lifespan of both adult bees and their growing brood. Typically toxic chemicals such as Apistan Strips (the active ingredient is fluvalinate) and coumaphos are used to kill Varroa Mites in the hive.
Here is a brief summary of some key requirements for organic honey certification:
- Must respect all general principles common to organic farmingRequires a 3 km.
- Radius foraging area from the hive free of chemical pesticides (natural herbal compounds are allowed within limits) Replacement bees should come from organic production units (where available)
- Nectar, honeydew and pollen shall consist mainly of organically produced plants and wild vegetation
- Organic honey and pollen must make up the bulk of feed for adult bees
The above article is from my book THE CONFIDENT FOOD SHOPPER which can be found on AMAZON!
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