In Rize’s geographically indicated product, Anzer honey, its authenticity will now be determined not by the list of flowers in the highland but by the referenced hive.
In Rize’s geographically indicated product, Anzer honey, its authenticity will now be determined not by the list of flowers in the highland but by the referenced hive.
Until this year, Anzer beekeepers sent their honey samples for analysis to the Hacettepe University Bee and Bee Products Application and Research Center through cooperatives and the Rize Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry after harvesting. The honey samples were examined in the laboratory to determine their variety of flowers from Anzer, and based on the report, it was decided whether the honey was truly Anzer honey. Suitable honey was labeled with a geographical indication by the Rize Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, while other honey was returned to its owner without processing. This year, a protocol was established between Hacettepe University’s Bee and Bee Products Application and Research Center and the Rize Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. According to the protocol, Hacettepe University set up and sealed its own hives in 10 regions with high honey production in Anzer. The authenticity of the geographical indication for Anzer honey will be tested using reference honey from these hives.
Reference honey was harvested
On June 27, Prof. Dr. Aslı Özkırım, Director of Hacettepe University’s Bee and Bee Products Application and Research Center, visited the 10 regions with intense beekeeping and sealed the hives from which reference honey would be collected. The sealed hives were left alone to be opened during the honey harvest period. When the harvest period arrived, Prof. Dr. Aslı Özkırım went to the sealed hives in the Anzer highland and had their seals removed one by one. The honeycombs from the opened hives were harvested. After being placed in jars, the honey was resealed and sent to Hacettepe University for analysis. The analysis will determine the authenticity of Anzer honey by comparing it with the reference honey.
“Average yield is around 2 kilos per hive”
Prof. Dr. Aslı Özkırım stated that the average amount of honey in other hives has also been determined thanks to the sealed hives. “We have identified 10 locations with intense beekeeping in both Lower Anzer and Upper Anzer. Hacettepe University has a hive in each of these 10 locations. We sealed these hives. We did not seal all the beekeepers' hives. I sealed them once and left. Now that we are in the honey harvest period, we opened the seals of the hives in Anzer highland. The honey was harvested from the opened hives. The amount of honey harvested varies by altitude and season in the 10 regions. The average yield is around 2 kilos per hive,” she said.
“There will be Hacettepe's sealed hives every year”
Prof. Dr. Aslı Özkırım mentioned that Hacettepe University will have sealed hives every year in Anzer. “Bees and bears are important indicators of climate change. Both are greatly affected. Typically, in geographical indication studies, the honey of a place is defined by conducting flora and reference honey studies for five consecutive years. The average of these five years is taken and used in subsequent years. The method we developed is entirely based on climate change. Hacettepe will have sealed hives every year because, although the flowers are the same each year, the flowers visited by the bees change due to variations in humidity, temperature, and climate. This also affects the yield,” she explained.
“Securing the future of Anzer honey”
Anzer Ballıköy’s village head, Remzi Güzel, stated that the work ensures the future quality of Anzer honey. “Our esteemed professor has started this work by placing witness hives in 10 different regions in our village. Our goal is to better carry forward our geographically indicated honey to future years and secure the quality and future of Anzer honey,” he said.
“Our honey has many fakes”
Anzer Çiçekliköy’s village head, Aslan Arıcan, expressed concerns about counterfeit honey. “Our Anzer honey is not just any honey. We need to do more. There are many fakes of our honey in Turkey. This work is being done to prevent these fakes. These applications are very good,” he said.