Rosh Hashanah is approaching: where will you find the cheapest honey?

The summer vacation is still here, but in the retail chains, one can already smell the Tishrei holidays: ahead of Rosh Hashanah, which is identified more than anything with apples and honey, the local market is preparing for peak demand. This year, consumers who want to save on holiday expenses will be able to enjoy a significant discount, but those who prefer the well-known Israeli brands will discover gaps between the different supermarkets.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security approved a quota of 400 tons of imported, discounted honey ahead of the holidays. The average price for imported honey this year will stand at 16.6 NIS per kilogram - a decrease compared to an average of 18.7 NIS during last year's Rosh Hashanah. The prices of honey within the quotas (which will be imported, among other places, from Spain and Greece) will range in the chains from 14.7 to 18.9 NIS per kg.

The retail chains are already preparing for the sale of the discounted honey. For example, the Osher Ad chain will sell a kilogram for 12.9 NIS. In the Yochananof and Machsanei HaShuk chains, a kilogram of honey will be sold for 14.8 NIS. The Victory chain will offer a kilogram for 17.8 NIS, and Rami Levy will sell a kilogram of honey from Spain for 18 NIS. The Willi-Food company will market honey in 10 different chains (including Super Sapir, Freshmarket, and more) at a price of 17.9 NIS per kg, and Carrefour will sell a 450-gram package for 8.5 NIS (reflecting 18.9 NIS per kg).

Israeli honey: gaps of tens of percents

Those who will not settle for the imported honey within the quotas and will want to purchase the Israeli brands will have to pay much more. According to a check by the "Hayom" system using the "Prices" application, it appears that the price of Israeli honey is significantly more expensive, and there are large gaps between the chains for the exact same product:

1. Pure wildflower honey by Yad Mordechai (1 kg): the cheapest price was found at Rami Levy (39.8 NIS). At Victory and Yochananof, you will pay a penny more (39.9). On the other hand, the price climbs to 43.3 NIS at Hatzi Hinam, 44.9 at Machsanei HaShuk, 45.3 at Carrefour Hyper, and the most expensive price - 45.9 NIS at Tiv Taam (a gap of 15.3%).

2. Honey in a squeeze bottle by Yad Mordechai (400 grams): the price ranges from 19.9 NIS at Yochananof to 25.9 NIS at Tiv Taam - a significant gap of 30%.

3. Pure honey by Kaliyat Gat (350 grams): the price starts at 19.9 NIS at Keshet Teamim and reaches 25.9 NIS at Tiv Taam.

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"There is never a shortage of honey in Israel"

"There is enough supply in the field, I don't remember there ever being a shortage of honey in the State of Israel," says Gil Schatzberg, CEO of the Honey and Pollination Council. "The year was blessed with a lot of blooming in the spring and summer, so there will be no shortage of honey during the Tishrei holidays, despite the rising demand."

Regarding the need for imports, Schatzberg explains: "With all the will, we are not able to provide all the honey consumption in Israel. Consumption stands at about 650-800 grams per capita per year, but the population is growing and therefore the total consumption is growing. We are completing the gaps in a controlled manner through imports. We are allowing more competition, and consumer prices in recent years, especially during the Tishrei holidays, are decreasing."

Regarding the price gaps between imported and Israeli honey, Schatzberg defends the local produce: "Israeli honey is more expensive, but it is also much better. We have boutique honeys and special honeys, and like wine or olive oil - high quality costs more. Ultimately, there are those who prefer wine at 20 NIS and those who prefer it at 400 NIS. Our role, together with the Ministries of Health and Economy, is to ensure that the import is indeed real honey and not a fake product."