All first-graders at Croatian schools to get jar of local honey

(Photo: Croatian Ministry of Agriculture)

Every first-grader at school in Croatia will get a jar of local honey.

The distribution of local honey to all first-graders in Croatia is part of a project “”School Honey Day from Croatian Beehives” which was first launched back in 2018. 

Today, the Minister of Agriculture said there will be funding in the amount of €150,723.00 for the distribution of jars of honey to first-grade students in elementary schools across the entire territory of Croatia and invited all interested beekeepers to take part. 

Founders of educational institutions are also invited to participate in the program for financing eligible costs for honey packaged in National 370 ml jars, the Ministry said in a statement.

The program will be implemented in the first grades of elementary schools on December 7, 2023, in celebration of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of bees and beekeepers. 

The aim is to educate children about the importance of honey as a part of their diet, as well as beekeeping for overall agricultural production and biodiversity, and to promote honey from local producers packaged in the National jar.

Since 2018 when the project first started, a total of 853 elementary schools with a combined total of 174,962 first-grade students have participated, with an average of 194 beekeepers participating each year.

The average consumption of honey per capita in Croatia is 2 kgs.