Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
ZIMBABWE’S organically-produced honey took international buyers by storm at the recently held North American Honey Bee Expo, with delegates putting it in pole position among the more than 50 brands on offer.
The North American Honey Bee Expo took place in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, from January 2 to 4 this year.
The event featured workshops, trade shows and research on bee health, sustainability and management.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade X handle, “Across the globe, organic products from Zimbabwe are earning a powerful reputation for purity, quality and exceptional taste.
“At an International Bee Conference held in 2026, international beekeepers sampled more than 50 different types of honey from around the world, and the Zimbabwean brand stood out above the rest.”
Zimbabwean honey quickly became the favourite at the tasting bar with seasoned beekeepers praising it as the best they had tried all day, highlighting its rich flavour and natural profile.
The ministry said the reaction was unanimous as a result of the outstanding quality of local honey.
“Moments like this show why organic products from Zimbabwe are increasingly in demand on shelves across the world,” it said.
“Harvested from unspoiled environments and produced using natural, sustainable methods, Zimbabwean honey reflects the richness of the land it comes from.”
ZimTrade is spearheading the export of honey by organising farmers into clusters, such as the Chikomba honey cluster for produce aggregation and marketing.
Chipinge Beekeepers Association chair, Mr John Mwandifura, said over 256 honey farmers in Chipinge and ZimTrade was due to visit their area to organise the farmers.
“Some farmers are selling their honey at between US$80 and US$120 per 20 litre bucket to local buyers, with others selling to Mozambican buyers. The main aim of the association is to ensure organised marketing and curtail illegal exports,” he said.
The Agriculture Food System and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2) notes that the apiculture value chain is important in communities that practice beekeeping, especially as part of an integrated multi-product system.
Apiculture has the added advantage of enhancing agricultural productivity by enabling farmers to diversify their income beyond traditional crops and increasing resilience to climate change and economic shocks.
The sector also promotes sustainable land use by encouraging the preservation of forests and natural habitats that are crucial for bee health.
“Zimbabwe’s honey production averages 400 000 kilogrammes annually with opportunities for increased exports to global markets,” read AFSRTS 2.
The blueprint noted that despite its significant export opportunities driven by growing global demand for natural products (honey and bee wax), apiculture faced several challenges, including limited commercialisation, as it is still emerging and lacks adequate market integration, along with insufficient research on productivity and viability.
The strategy will strengthen the apiculture value chain by improving processing, packaging and market access, which can enhance the value of bee products and connect smallholder farmers to both local and export markets.
There is also a pressing need for research on productivity and viability to bolster the sector’s performance. This approach will not only boost incomes but also align with Government initiatives focused on poverty reduction and long-term environmental sustainability.
