Buzz grows around Tabuk honey festival
The five-day event at Prince Fahd bin Sultan Park was organized by the regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Amjad bin Abdullah Thlab, director general of the ministry's Tabuk branch, said the festival served as 'a unique platform combining agricultural awareness with the promotion of local honey products.'
He added that the festival was intended to 'enhance collaboration among farmers, beekeepers, and support entities, while providing marketing opportunities for participants to showcase their products to visitors and consumers.'
The festival featured an interactive Young Beekeeper section, which introduced children to beekeeping tools and basic agricultural concepts.
The Cooperative Association of Beekeepers in Tabuk also took part, highlighting the development of the beekeeping profession in the Kingdom.
It showcased the latest equipment and practices in the sector, including local, traditional, and modern beehives, and traced the evolution of beekeeping from ancient to modern times.
There was a wide range of apiary tools, beekeeper clothing, honey sorting mechanisms, and modern packaging on display, offering a comprehensive look at the industry.
Meanwhile, the ministry deployed two specialized mobile units to 'support beekeepers and enhance honey quality — a mobile clinic for honey testing and a vehicle for sorting and marketing honey,' the SPA reported.
These initiatives are part of ongoing efforts to empower beekeepers, strengthen agricultural value chains, and boost national food security, the SPA added.
The festival also marked the launch of a new project to support honey processing and marketing. It includes assistance with sorting, packaging, branded labeling, and an e-platform to promote products and link them to their geographic origins.
The Tabuk municipality, through its food safety lab, set up a promotional booth at the festival to promote food literacy among visitors. The team conducted olive oil acidity tests and used High-Performance Liquid Chromatography to verify honey quality. Pesticide residue tests for fruit were also offered.
The booth also featured material educating visitors on food toxins and food-borne bacteria, along with guidance on the safe handling and storage of honey, olive oil, and pickles.
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