The Algarve’s beekeepers say that honey production is down 50% this year due to weeks of rain in May.
The annual production of honey has been running at 1,200 tonnes with producers estimating a drop of 45% to 50% this year, according to the president of producers association in the eastern Algarve.
The main honey collection period is between June and August but in June, when it had stopped raining, there were no flowers for the bees so there was little honey," said the association’s Manuel Dias who represents around 800 members.
There are 80,000 bee hives in the Algarve and demand for local honey has been rising rapidly,
"Ten years ago, we sold ten tonnes with difficulty. Today, we produce 15 or 20 tonnes and sell it all quickly, it’s not enough," said Dias.
Rosemary honey is the most popular with tourists, the most important market for producers.
In addition to the summer harvest, there will be carob honey collected in October, and bitter honey in December, but always in smaller quantities.
