I mentioned in an earlier blog that I don't hate Capilano. This blog will explain in a roundabout way as to why. However, the number one reason is that I personally know quite a number of people (a significant portion of the people I work for) that supply Capilano with honey. And yet, there are more reasons. First, it's interesting to know what is honey. And you're likely to assume that it's made from bees. However, if you come from Asia the definition and how it's created is entirely different. Professor Noberto Garcia informed us at congress that, unlike honey in the western world, honey in Asia is processed by humans through a 'honey factory'. The bees do the initial work of collecting the pollen and storing it in the hive... in steel tubes within the hive to be precise. Once the bees turn the pollen into honey, but before it is mature, the tubes are removed from the hive and taken to a factory to be extracted and mixed in with rice syrup, corn syrup and/or pass. You see, the Asian definition of honey hardly mentions the word 'bees'. It attributes honey's beginning to bees but that's where it ends. It talks about honey as being a sweet syrup. The western definition is solely based around bees doing all the work to create the end product.
Asian honey is produced in such a way that it constitutes as honey fraud in the west. Honey fraud can also include using resin technology, the masking of the geographical and/or botanic origin or feeding hives during a nectar flow.
At the moment, Australian honey exports are in decline and what we're importing is in greater quantities but certainly not quality. 73% of the imported honey comes from China. Before you get upset, remember that half the crap in our houses started out in China.
Back to Capilano. Yes, they import. However, they're one of 34 (yes, thirty four) Australian companies that import honey. As I've mentioned over and over on Facebook, Capilano have various labels: the masthead label (Capilano) and other labels (like Allowrie). The Capilano label is all Australian, the Allowrie label contains imported honey.
As a consumer, you can get angry and slag off Capilano all you want, however, consider this: loud, angry and disgruntled people having a go at Capilano importing honey is having a knock-on effect on the WHOLE honey industry. You have the knowledge, read the labels, buy Australian, buy masthead products. This is how to make a statement.
This is working in America. David Hackenberg, who runs a huge honey and pollination business from Pennsylvania, is part of a co-operative with other producers. They have their own label, Sam's. People know that Sam's is American. People are checking the labels. Sam's sells for a higher price than imported brands yet people are still buying it over cheaper honey from other countries. They like food provenance, they like to support their own economy. Consumers are buying smarter.
There's no use in getting angry and ranting on Capilano's Facebook page about the fact they are importing honey when THEY ARE ONE OF MANY.
I repeat: read the labels, buy Australian, buy masthead labels, pay that little bit more. Buy from the farmers market, I don't care. Just know that the power to buy Australian lies with YOU and buying Australian produce is the biggest statement you can make.
