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Introduction
Honey has been in use throughout the world across many millennia. Honey's popularity is evident from the variety of uses throughout history: honey is not only used as a sweetener, but also as a natural beauty agent and has been employed in some cultures for its medicinal attributes (National Honey Board).
Honey is consumed all over the world. The largest consumers are the USA, with around 153,000 tonnes, China with 123,000 tonnes and Germany, which consumes approximately 90,000 tonnes per annum ([2] AAFRD, 2005). As consumption has been relatively stable over the last five years, climate and quality have been the key factors influencing the world market. The restrictions placed on China and Argentina by the US in recent years and adverse weather conditions have affected a number of large honey-producing countries such as Mexico, Australia and Canada ([6] CIE, 2005).
In Australia, there are around 9,600 registered beekeepers with approximately 500,000 hives. The gross value of honey production is around AUD 60 million per annum. Production averages 30,000 tonnes per annum, one third of which is exported. Key markets are the United Kingdom, Indonesia and other South East Asian nations, North America and the Middle East. New South Wales is the largest producer (41 per cent), with Victoria producing 19 per cent, Queensland 15 per cent, South Australia 13 per cent, Western Australia 8 per cent and Tasmania 4 per cent ([6] CIE, 2005).
The domestic market is served by four primary packers and marketers (Capilano, Beechworth, Leabrook and Wescobee), a large number of small honey producers selling direct to the public, and the generic brands, which are sold by the three leading supermarkets. The primary distribution channel for branded products is through the supermarkets, which currently account for around 80 per cent of retail sales ([6] CIE, 2005).
There are approximately 845 beekeepers with around 34,000 hives in Western Australia. However, the majority of beekeepers are amateurs with fewer than 50 hives, and some 150 commercial or semi-commercial beekeepers, who manage more than 100 beehives ([19] Wescobee, 2009). The Western Australian beekeeping industry has access to the State's famous pristine forests and coastal wildflowers. This provides some unique floral resources resulting in the ability to produce honeys that are not found elsewhere...