The sweet taste of Trung Giap honey

Taking advantage of the abundant midland gardens filled with a variety of rich flowers, the Trung Giap Commune Honey Beekeeping Cooperative in Phu Ninh District has been harvesting “sweet” results from its honey production.

The honey products from the Trung Giap Commune Honey Beekeeping Cooperative were recognized as OCOP products in 2022.

Currently, members of the cooperative are busy with honey extraction and processing. With more than 20 years of beekeeping experience, Mr. Ha Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the cooperative, has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and success in the field. Mr. Thanh currently owns 66 bee colonies and regularly divides them for sale to people in the commune and surrounding areas.

Opening the lid of a beehive to check the quality of the honey, Mr. Thanh shared, “To ensure a healthy bee colony that produces high-quality honey with a good yield, beekeepers must understand the bees' nesting habits, how to divide colonies, the types of flowers, blooming seasons, and the period when bees gather nectar. Additionally, it is essential to place the beehives in cool, clean areas with well-designed entrances that only allow bees to pass through, preventing predators and diseases from harming the colony.”

Research shows that beekeeping for honey in Trung Giap has a long history, originating from people gathering wild honey from the hills and forests. Over time, locals learned to capture bees and introduce them to pre-built beehives, allowing them to gather nectar and produce honey. This beekeeping practice gradually developed and became the primary livelihood for many families in the area.

To promote local advantages, the Trung Giap Commune Honey Beekeeping Cooperative was established at the end of 2022. The cooperative has become a hub for honey production and consumption for its members. Since joining the cooperative, members have benefited from shared beekeeping techniques and have been able to link up for the sale and distribution of their products.

Currently, the cooperative has 16 members with approximately 500 beehives, producing an annual honey output of between 700 and 1,000 liters. To ensure effective operation and strengthen the Trung Giap honey brand, members receive support in training, learning, and exchanging beekeeping experiences from other regions. Furthermore, they proactively enhance their knowledge of bee care, hive construction, and proper hive placement.

Beekeeping in Trung Giap requires relatively low investment, with only about 200,000 VND needed to set up a beehive to start a colony. The local beekeeping methods primarily rely on natural resources, with an abundance of hybrid acacia forests and fruit trees in the area, providing optimal conditions for bee colonies to thrive.

Mr. Ha Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the cooperative, has been a successful beekeeper, with an annual income reaching hundreds of millions of VND.

The reputation of Trung Giap Honey is increasingly trusted by consumers, thanks to clear labels and traceability stamps. In 2022, the cooperative’s honey products earned a 3-star OCOP certification, boosting their value and significantly raising both wholesale and retail prices.

Mr. Bui Tho Toan from Zone 6, Trung Giap Commune, shared, “Before joining the cooperative, my family sold honey retail to regular customers, which was convenient but difficult for new customers who often questioned the product’s quality. Now, through the cooperative, the products are verified, produced naturally, and come with traceability stamps. This has allowed us to raise the price to about 250,000-280,000 VND per liter, depending on the flower source."

As a result, honey products from the Trung Giap Commune Beekeeping Cooperative have become more accessible to consumers and are highly valued for their quality. The cooperative’s products are now widely consumed both inside and outside the district, providing regular jobs for members and stable incomes ranging from 50 to 100 million VND per year.

The golden honey is the result of tireless work by the bees, the essence of nature’s flavors, and the love of the people of Trung Giap. These achievements not only acknowledge the efforts of local beekeepers but also mark a turning point in the development of local agricultural products. This success motivates beekeepers to continue their work, improve product quality, and grow their businesses in the future.

Anh Duong