Honey from nature is much appreciated for its taste, scent and nature association. But for many customers it has become just as critical to know where the honey is from. Traceability provides information to customers on the origins of honey to its final container. It may be helpful in the areas of sourcing, harvesting, testing and processing and packaging. It is particularly crucial when purchasing forest honey or raw honey from the natural source, because the source can affect the taste and quality of the natural honey. The traceability process will then make it possible for the customers to make better decisions.

What can be known from traceability of honey?

Traceability offers details of the various processes that have taken place before reaching the customer. It can give the buyer some idea of where the bees have taken their nectar – and what has been done with it since.

• Can determine the source of the honey
• Demonstrates the responsible use of resources
• Takes note of processing and packaging
• Supports quality verification
• Improves transparency of products
• Assists in the determination of the floral origin of the honey.

What is the benefit of traceability to honey quality?

A quality control can be easier if there’s a traceable supply chain since different stages of production can be monitored. Each batch can also be tested to verify critical quality factors and verify that the honey conforms to food safety standards. This can also provide greater clarity around honey sourcing.

• The batch-wise purity testing helps to ensure honey uniformity of quality.
• Quality assessment can include moisture and sugar composition (see below)
• Testing is used to detect possible contamination and/or presence of unwanted components.
• Food Safety practices create a food safety with the buyer.

Ethical sourcing is an integral part of traceability, but why?

There is no restriction on the information one should have about the source of honey collection. It can also offer information on the processing of the honey and the manner in which the honey was harvested. Managers’ best practices to protect the forest ecosystem and bee colonies include responsible harvesting. Honey bees can gather nectar from a variety of different wildflowers, herbs and trees, resulting in unique natural flavors for forest honey. Providing information to customers about the fact that experienced beekeepers utilize sustainable practices can help inspire additional trust in the product’s journey. It also brings the last jar together with the people and natural environment that produced it. This transparent honey sourcing can help provide greater insight into the product’s journey.

How does traceability help to gain customer’s trust?

End users are now more interested in learning more about what they are bringing home. Traceability may help answer some of these questions and provide a greater understanding of the hive to jar journey.

• Accurately establishes that honey is from a natural source. Confidently recognizes that honey is a natural product.
• Increases traceability of the sourcing of products
• Promotes knowledge of informed buying decisions
• Links the products to responsible beekeepers
• Paces and promotes quality assurance
• Brings clarity to the chain in terms of supply.

Conclusion

Traceability is emerging as a factor of importance when purchasing natural honey as it will enable the customer to have a better insight in origin and distribution of the product to the jar. It can help to promote disclosure of sourcing, ethical harvesting, quality checks, and packaging. Earthen Connect is a true traceability method for the forest honey, from responsible sourcing to quality control and packaging the hives in the care of the packager. This transparency can enable the consumers to make informed decisions when they buy honey and gain insight into the process from forest to table.