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Iowa Honey Producers Association |
The Buzz Newsletter June 2006 |
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Press Release
Solid Honey Wafer Offers Hands Off Solution for Beverages Honey Board Promotes No Mess or Fuss Benefits; It’s “Simply Honey” Longmont, Colo. (May 16, 2006) – Next time you’re considering adding a little honey to your tea, picture yourself reaching for a solid honey wafer. Amazingly, thanks to research sponsored by the National Honey Board (NHB), the ease and convenience of solid honey is now more than wishful thinking, it’s reality. Prompted by growing interest from food manufacturers in dried honey, the Honey Board initiated a product concept program on behalf of the U.S. honey industry to optimize the utility of the various forms and styles of honey. Early in the project, due to honey’s hygroscopic properties, the Honey Board realized honey’s sticky constraints. By removing a portion of the water content of honey &honey contains roughly 17% water), technologists solved the stickiness problem and created a new concept/product – solid honey. Launched with the tentative name “Simply Honey”, the honey wafer has a single ingredient: pure honey (no additives or stabilizers). With dimensions approximating the size and thickness of a quarter, it dissolves quickly in hot liquid. To monitor public response, the Honey Board introduced “Simply Honey” as a hot beverage sweetener at food trade shows during 2006, beginning with the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas (March), the Specialty Coffee Association of America conference in Charlotte, NC (April) and at the annual Food Marketing Institute show in Chicago (May). At these events, the board prospected for food manufacturers willing to implement the Honey Board’s primary objective: moving the concept from ideation to the store shelves. The concept comes at no cost to the manufacturer; however, additional product development, product identity, packaging and distribution would be the manufacturer’s responsibility. While commodity boards primarily focus on generic promotion programs, the National Honey Board proactively assists the industry by identifying opportunistic honey applications and consumer-friendly honey concepts. Since joining the NHB as Marketing Director, Bruce Wolk has spearheaded industry efforts to make honey more accessible to 21st century consumers. “Our goal is to keep honey top of mind when consumers reach for a sweetener. Market research and focus group feedback shows us the honey’s natural appeal and unique flavor are no longer strong enough to influence that decision, whereas a form of honey that is easy to handle and store adds considerably to its attractiveness.” For more information on current and concept forms and styles of honey contact Charlotte Jordan at (303) 776-2337 or charlotte@nhb.org. For more information about the National Honey Board and its marketing and promotion programs, visit www.honey.com. The honey Board, through its staff in Longmont, Colo., conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey. The Board’s work, funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey, is designed to expand the awareness and use of honey by consumers, the foodservice industry and food manufacturers. www.nhb.org —-
Honey Industry to Hold Roundtable in June 2006 Longmont, Colo. – Issues of current interest to the honey industry will be discussed at an industry roundtable, June 28, in Denver, Colo. The National Honey Board (NHB) is hosting the event. Topics scheduled for discussion at the roundtable include standard of identity, voluntary quality assurance and labeling. The forum will include speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service and from the Food and Drug Administration. Invited organizations are the American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association, National Honey Packers & Dealers Association and Sioux Honey Association. The roundtable is open to the public, and any honey industry member is welcome to attend the event. NHB periodically sponsors industry roundtables to provide a discussion forum. The last such roundtable was held in 2004. For more information, contact Lisa Jager at (800) 553-7162 or at lisa@nhb.org www.nhb.org —-
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