Honey-makers from the Luxembourg Gardens of Paris. (source: SITA)
Slovak producers of mead called Bohemiana, honey from acacia trees, and Beed (Včelovina) were among the winners of gold medals at the 3rd World Competition of Honey and Meads called Apimondia 2009 held in France. Slovakia was among the most successful countries at the event that brought together 200 exhibitors, 500 experts and more than 10,000 visitors from more than 100 countries.
“Representatives of Slovakia had historical success at this competition as they received 11 medals altogether, 5 gold medals, 3 bronzes and 3 silvers. We were, together with France, the most successful country at the exhibition,” Róbert Chlebo of the Slovak Agriculture University in Nitra told the TASR newswire.
The honey and mead producers winning the top awards were from the western part of Slovakia. Radoslav Opalek of Včelco company in Trnava won gold in the category of Traditional Mead. Other gold medal winners were: Jozef Štefaňák of Nitrianske Blatnice and Martina Štibraná of Včelco in the category of Mead with Spices or Herbs; Karl Laco from Šahy in the category Honey of the Mild-Climate Zone for his one-of-a-kind acacia honey; and Jozef Voľanský of Bardejov for honey-dew and fir honey.
Chlebo told TASR that “Slovak mead is our strong entry; it received awards at the previous two exhibitions of Apimondia – in 2005 in Dublin and in 2007 in Melbourne.” Until the next honey producers’ congress in Buenos Aires in 2011, the winners have the right to use labels with Apimondia logos and with a picture of their award.
