670. Beeconomics 101

The podcast explores the economics of the honeybee industry, focusing on challenges faced by beekeepers due to cheap imports and honey fraud. Chris Hiatt, a beekeeper and past president of the American Honey Producers Association, discusses the decline in domestic honey production and the impact of adulterated honey on the market. Michael Roberts, a food law and policy expert, explains how honey is adulterated and the difficulties in regulating the industry due to the lack of a clear standard of identity. The conversation also covers the positive externalities of honeybees, particularly their crucial role in almond pollination, and the economic implications of colony collapse disorder.