For the twentieth consecutive year, the Honey and Beekeeping Products Fair “Zdravomed 2024” opened today on Vidovdanska Street in Gradiška.
A total of 19 exhibitors from Gradiška and other municipalities presented their local products, including honey, various beekeeping products, and homemade juices.
The mayor of Gradiška, Zoran Adžić, visited the event and emphasized that they will continue to support beekeepers in overcoming the challenges of the year and maintaining their production.
According to Adžić, the city administration has set aside a special grant aimed particularly at smaller producers with fewer hives.
We want to help them become more competitive in the market, as honey is one of the few products that can be exported to the European Union, Adžić stated.
Goran Mirjanić, a beekeeper and professor at the Faculty of Agriculture in Banja Luka, pointed out that the honey yield has been below average for several years now.
Mirjanić noted that beekeepers are adapting to the situation and expanding their product range to make the most of this beekeeping season.
Predrag Trninić, a beekeeper from Gradiška, showcased an expanded range of beekeeping products at the Honey Fair.
He presented honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, honey cakes, liqueurs, and mentioned that he focuses on producing queens, royal jelly, and swarms.
- I take my bees to the slopes of Kozara for chestnut and linden nectar, along the Sava River for amorpha, and in Lijevče Field for sunflower, meadow flowers, and rapeseed. Most of my time is dedicated to producing royal jelly and preparing various bee products – shared Predrag Tomić.
Danka Mirjanić, director of the Tourism Organization, highlighted that most of the beekeeping products displayed at “Zdravomed” can also be found at the “House of Lijevče and Potkozarje.”
Mirjanić emphasized that the goal is for beekeepers to showcase their products at the end of the season.
There are over 300 beekeepers in the Gradiška area, managing between 7,000 and 8,000 beehives.
This fair is traditionally organized by the Tourism Organization of Gradiška in cooperation with local beekeeping associations “Amorfa” and “Pčele bilje,” with the support of the city administration.
Source: Glas Srpske
