Milking has started: Healing depot cedar honey made beekeepers smile

In Mersin, which holds an important place in honey production in Turkey, the ‘cedar honey’, which can be harvested once every 3 or 5 years due to climatic conditions, made beekeepers happy this year. It was stated that the price per kilogram of cedar honey, which has started to be milked, is one thousand Turkish Liras. Beekeepers in Mersin, which is among the top 5 in beekeeping in Turkey, started production at sea level with the spring, and with the increasing heat, they went up to the cedar forests in the Taurus Mountains. Millions of bees at an altitude of 1800 meters filled the combs with honey as they started their honey work when the sun rose. Beekeepers who started production with more than 100 thousand hives in the region emphasized that cedar honey, which is obtained sometimes every 2, sometimes 3, sometimes 5 years, is a special type of honey. Beekeepers stated that they entered a productive harvest season this year due to climatic conditions, and said that producers were hopeful. It was indicated that the high antioxidant source cedar honey, with a price of around one thousand Turkish Liras per kilogram, has a TA value of 17, strengthens the immune system, and is considered a natural energy booster. After the completion of the honey work in the cedar forests, it was reported that the bees would be taken to Eğriçayır plateau this time.
The demand for cedar honey increased with the knowledge of its benefits. Beekeeper Celal Çay, emphasizing that they are in the cedar forests in the Taurus Mountains, said, ‘Not only us, but also hundreds of our beekeeper friends are in this forest. Together, we produce cedar honey. Its taste is very good. At the same time, it is medicinal. It strengthens the immune system, supports the liver and lungs. With the knowledge of its benefits, the demand for cedar honey has started to increase.’ Çay stated that as Mersin beekeepers, they want to produce cedar honey every year, but unfortunately, they cannot produce it every year. It happens every 2-3 years. This year is one of those years. We expect high productivity this year.
If produced enough, it will be sent to many countries. Mentioning that they received demand from the Netherlands last year but could not send it because they did not have it, Çay said, ‘We will send it this year as the yield is good. The only problem ahead of us is that due to global climate change, this honey cannot be produced as much as before. If we can produce enough this year, we will send it to the Middle East, Far East, and Europe.’
Cedar honey brought hope to beekeepers. The President of the Mersin Beekeepers Association, Adem Kurt, said, ‘We are in the cedar forests of the Taurus Mountains in Mersin. Here, we make a serious honey production with 100 thousand hives. Due to climate changes and drought, our beekeepers were really going through a difficult period, cedar honey brought hope. Cedar honey is a honey that does not occur every year. Sometimes every 2, 3, sometimes 5 years. This year is one of those rare years, the yield is very high. This has become a source of hope for our beekeepers, it has turned into a production warehouse.’