The effect of agricultural credit cooperative on the marketing and quality of bi̇ngöl's honey

This study was carried out to examine the effects of the practices of the Agriculture and Credit Cooperative on the quality and marketing of honey produced in Bingöl province. It is of great importance to increase the quality of Bingöl honey by purchasing and marketing the honey purchased from the producers through the cooperative, after quality analysis in accredited laboratories. For this purpose, the values related to the analysis results of honey purchased from producers in the last 6 years were examined and evaluated. An average of 740.33 g samples was taken from each honey for analysis. The average sample temperature in honey was determined as 20.56 oC. Average values of the analysis results of samples taken from honey produced between 2019-2024; moisture content of honey is 16.84%, diastase number is 20.72, electrical conductivity is 0.28 mS/cm, proline value is 6.08.25 mg/kg, delta C13 protein value is -8.87%, free acidity value is 16.94 meq/kg, HMF value is 2.88 mg/kg, C4 sugar rate is 0.20%, difference between C13 values is 0.08%, delta C13 raw honey value was found to be -8.95%, fructose rate was 40.45%, glucose rate was 32.59%, maltose rate was 0.06%, sucrose rate was 0.24%, fructose/glucose rate was 1.24 and fructose+glucose rate was 73.11 g/100g. When the quality characteristics of honey were analyzed according to the years examined, significant differences were observed between years in terms of some parameters. While the differences between years were significant (P≤0.05) in terms of delta C13 protein values, delta C13 raw honey values, fructose rates and glucose rates, the differences between other characteristics were found to be insignificant. However, it was determined that all of the honey produced and analyzed and purchased between 2019-2024 was in compliance with the Turkish Food Codex Honey Communiqué. This practice carried out by the Agricultural Credit Cooperative, which forces producers to produce better quality honey, has contributed greatly to the increase in the quality of Bingöl honey. In addition, it is of great importance to ensure that the consumer does not suffer from the increasingly adulterated and fake honey in the market and does not consume unhealthy products. If the honey that it buys from the producer and sends for analysis meets the standards, the Agricultural and Credit Cooperative sells it in its own markets, which is also very important for the marketing of the producer's honey. As a result, considering both the support it provides to the producer in the production and marketing stages and the benefits it provides to the consumer economically and in terms of healthy food consumption, this practice initiated by the Agriculture and Credit Cooperative will be beneficial to continue at least until the producer reaches the desired level of production awareness.