Results for the 2024 Canadian honey industry have just been released. It shows honey production in 2024 is down by 18% to 78.3 million pounds over 2023. Total 2024 revenues dropped by 24.5% to $283.3 million.

The decline in total revenue is due to several factors. First, beekeepers received lower prices in 2024, averaging $2.74 a pound of honey. This was down by 7.6% over 2023, the lowest since 2021.   Second, production yields declined to 94 pounds per colony on average, the lowest in over 5 years.

As well, a drop in the total number of colonies hit the industry hard in 2023 caused by weather, varroa mites and other challenges.  In Ontario for example, beekeepers lost 50% of their hives in 2023. To make up this loss, beekeepers built back up bee population in 2024, rather than harvesting honey. So, if the 2024/2025 winter is kind to bees, honey production levels should increase in 2025.

Some facts about the honey industry:

There are about 13,000 beekeepers in Canada. Depending on the province, about 10% to 20% of beekeepers are commercial producers, accounting for 80% to 90% of honey production. The balance are smaller producers and hobbyists (I am one!). Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba produce about 80% of Canada’s honey production.

– A heathy and productive hive has about 50,000 bees

– A bee hive can produce anywhere from 10 pounds to 200 pounds of honey

– It takes over 500 bees to produce one pound of honey

– 2 million flowers must be visited to make one pound of honey

– Honey bees travel up to 5 or 6km away to collect nectar

– Honey bees maintain temperatures of 34C inside a hive in the winter to keep themselves alive

Raw honey benefits:

– Good source of antioxidants
– Source of many vitamins and nutrition
– Phytonutrient source – antifungal and immune boosting, anti-cancer benefits
– Aids digestion
– Brain benefits