Drought brings critical year for Tenerife honey

[Janet]

The production of the prestigious Denominación de Origen Protegida Tenerife honey will be almost wiped out this year as a result of the drought and heatwaves, says Juan Jesús Ramos Fariña, the president of Apiten, the island's apiarist association. Prices are expected to rise considerably, and the Teide broom and Tajinaste honey will be particularly affected. So far this year production is down 50%, but it is expected to fall to 90% by the end of the year. Losses in the bee-keeping sector will be substantial, said Sr Ramos, with this year being critical for the industry: catastrophic wouldn't be too strong a word for the current situation, with no official monies available to help because of the economic crisis. JA

[Perikles]

Are the bees themselves dying off, or just the plants they visit? If the bee population is damaged, it would take a long time to recuperate.

[Janet]

No idea ... 

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