GOOD SPIRIT LAKE, Sask. — Saskatchewan honey producers are warning that newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian honey could create ripple effects throughout the industry, even for operations that do not export directly to the American market.
The Canadian Honey Council says a 50 per cent U.S. tariff on Canadian honey has put pressure on an industry that exports about nine million kilograms of honey annually, with up to 75 per cent traditionally destined for the United States.
For Sasha Howland of Howland's Honey, a third-generation beekeeping operation located south of Good Spirit Lake, the biggest concern is not necessarily losing direct sales but what happens when honey that would normally be exported remains in Canada.
"We're likely going to have so much honey here in Canada that producers are going to be fighting to move it, and that drives the price down," Howland said.
Howland's Honey, founded in 1979, sells honey under its own retail label while also marketing honey in the bulk sector. The business currently supplies retailers including local co-ops, Canadian Tire, Old Fashion Foods in Regina and Costco locations in Regina and Saskatoon.
While the operation has an established Canadian contract for bulk honey, Howland said uncertainty remains about how the broader market could react in the months ahead.
"I definitely reached out to them and just asked if they would still be needing the amounts they generally need, and they said yes," she said. "But there's definitely the risk of falling prices."
The Canadian Honey Council is urging consumers and food manufacturers to support domestic producers by purchasing Canadian honey and highlighting Canadian ingredients in products that use honey.
Howland echoed that message, saying the industry's response should focus on supporting domestic businesses.
"We have to try to meet it with solidarity," she said. "If we can find ways to support local, we can find ways to get through this."
Part of that support, she said, includes helping consumers identify Canadian products. Howland noted that Bee Maid Honey, a Canadian-owned packing and marketing co-operative, packages 100 per cent Canadian honey under its own label.
The Canadian Honey Council noted in a recent statement that Canada imports roughly 10 million kilograms of honey annually from countries including Brazil, India, Thailand and Vietnam.
The council says some imported honey products entering Canada may be adulterated, meaning they have been diluted with cheaper ingredients while still being sold as honey. The organization points to Canadian Food Inspection Agency testing that has identified cases of fraudulent honey in imported products.
Howland said adulterated honey is often cut with less expensive ingredients such as rice syrup and other sweeteners, allowing products to be sold at lower prices than pure Canadian honey.
"As long as companies are always looking at the cheapest price, that's what drives everything down," she said.
The council has called on major food manufacturers that use honey as an ingredient to promote their use of Canadian honey and help strengthen domestic demand at a time when export markets face uncertainty.
Despite the challenges, Howland said operations with established retail brands may have more options than producers who rely heavily on exports.
"We're in a blessed position because we do sell under our own label and we do have a consumer base," she said. "Maybe we'll pack more under our own product and look for more places to sell it."
As the industry navigates the tariff dispute, Howland said consumers can play a role by choosing Canadian honey and supporting local producers whenever possible.
