The thousand secrets of the sunflower

(Photo: AM)

During the one-month promotion, I would like to draw attention to the consumption of various honeys, including sunflower honey, which is available in the largest quantities, because it is not only an excellent sweetener due to its content and effects on health, but also one of the most versatile natural immune boosters. The Ministry of Agriculture, AMC and OMME have been organizing campaigns promoting honey consumption since 2018, but for the first time, the aim is not only to shape general attitudes, but to introduce a variety of honey. – The activity of bees affects the entire agriculture and food production. If there were no bees, then every sixth food item would disappear from store shelves – Zsolt Feldman, the State Secretary responsible for agriculture and rural development of the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of beekeeping at the press conference of the campaign aimed at promoting honey consumption. He added that Hungarian consumers can provide the greatest help to domestic beekeepers, as their purchasing decisions open up market opportunities for the sale of Hungarian honey. From the governmental side, we are expanding the traditional beekeeping support system, which is also available in other countries, in order to maintain Hungarian honey production, with pollination support and the bee animal welfare support launched only in the European Union, Zsolt Feldman said.

This autumn campaign specifically wants to increase the awareness of various honeys, including sunflower honey

Few people know that in our country, bees produce honey from nearly 40 types of plants, and beekeepers produce special honey. The variety of honey spun in the largest quantity is sunflower honey. Why are there most of these? Because it is our breeding bee pasture in the largest area. Farmers grow it on around 650,000 hectares of arable land, said Péter Bross, president of the National Hungarian Beekeeping Association (OMME). The expert added: the aim of the campaign is to make customers look not only for “usual” honeys, such as acacia or flower honey, but also for more special varieties. – The human health effect of each type of honey, i.e. its effect on the human body, is different. Sunflower honey, for example, has an excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, immune-boosting effect. In addition, we want to make you more familiar with the solid state, the so-called crystalline also honeys, since this is a natural process, for example, this is the natural texture of sunflower honey, he added.

Since 2018, the Agricultural Marketing Center has been organizing campaigns to encourage honey consumption

However, this is the first time that a specific type of honey is being promoted. – Our primary goal with the campaign is to widen the alternatives for choosing honey. Of course, we are aware that an average grocery store mostly sells “traditional” types of honey, but countless types of honey are available in the markets and from producers. Sunflower honey is an extremely healthy and special delicacy available in large quantities – Péter Ondré, managing director of the Agrármarketing Centrum, spoke about the goals of the honey campaign. The specialist said: until the end of November, sunflower honey will be recommended to customers with television and radio spots, as well as on social media platforms.

The effects of the previous campaigns are already visible, as honey consumption can currently be reduced to 1 kg/person/year

The aim of the current campaign is specifically to make varietal honeys more popular, so that we can make our meals much more varied and protect our health. It was also announced at the press conference that the European Honey Breakfast program will be organized again this year by OMME, during which bread with honey will be offered to children in more than a thousand kindergartens and schools across the country, and beekeepers will give educational lectures.

AM