It is on the square in front of Agen Agora that the honey market will be held on February 1st. “Ultimately, we are going to keep this formula, this allows more beekeepers to come and exhibit,” underlines Patrick Granziera, president of Abeille Gasconne, spearhead since 2018 of the week dedicated to honey.
This event felt like a blow and almost paid the price for the Department's painful financial choices. “We ended up finding common ground. » Which is not necessarily less telling.
A law against the Asian hornet?
In fact, many activities were already on track. The Department has maintained its menus in nursing homes, colleges, etc. And l'Abeille Gasconne has added the services of bakeries and restaurateurs. “We were a little taken by surprise, but we are here,” affirm in turn Frédéric Caumières, from Moulin du Cros, for the bakers, and Jean-François Blanchet, president of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts, ensuring that they are already working on the 2026 edition.
“This operation is important for us, to raise awareness of our profession and our issues. » Bees, in fact, are threatened by pesticides on the one hand and by the Asian hornet on the other. “On this aspect, Lot-et-Garonnais senator Michel Masset proposed a unanimously adopted bill to compensate beekeepers. We are awaiting the vote of the National Assembly…”
First in the loop, the children. “It is above all for them and the work already begun that we wanted this week to be done,” notes Patrick Granziera.
-If the hesitations and arbitrations of the Departmental Council have slowed down the organization, the latter still remains a stakeholder. “We have this Du 47 system on our plates which highlights local production, therefore honey,” underlines the elected official dedicated to this issue, Annie Messina. Which also recalls the 12 connected apiaries in the different colleges. “No longer financing this type of operation at the same level is heartbreaking. But we remain present.”
On the program for Honey Week
From February 25 to 1, restaurants and colleges will offer menus based on honey. It will be the same in nursing homes. In bakeries, artisans will bake honey-based treats. Bookstores, across the department, have also taken up the subject and will offer activities around honey with the help of beekeepers. The French Hiking Federation will lead its members and the curious on the honey routes. Finally, in the leisure centers, a collective fresco is being designed, as are beehive cells, decorated by young people. On February 1, for the honey market, on the square in front of Agen Agora, exhibitors will showcase their products. At 2 p.m., a gingerbread competition will bring together the best honey lovers. FREE ENTRANCE. Complete program on lotetgaronne.fr
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