Beekeeping is a centuries old tradition in Kras. Janko Vodopivec was beekeeping in Kras between 1892 and 1937 on the pasture of acacia, cherry, thyme buckwheat and winter savory in Branica, Tomaj, Skopo, Gorjansko, Kosovelje, Grahovo brdo and Šempolaj, which is written in many of his records.

The turning point for development of progressive beekeeping in Kras was the year 1910. In the then »Province of Gorizia«, 60 progressive beekeepers gathered and elected the beekeeping comittee and trustees. The beekeeping society Sežana was established in 1911, mainly due to stimulating provincial and state funding, which the Austrian government offered to organized and progressive beekeepers. From this the movement developed, which was responsible for the implementation of the then new revolutionary way of beekeeping in hives with moveable honeycombs. National charge and resistance to Italian and Austrian pressure has also left a mark in beekeeping, through the endeavour of our pursuits and answers for the making of adequate, entirely Slovenian hive.

Today our society, which encompasses the area of municipalities of Divača, Hrpelje-Kozina, Komen and Sežana, has 95 members. The society is beekeeping with about 3.800 hives. The beekeeping society is having good pasture income, exceptionally quality honey. On average, in the last two years, yield per hive is between 25 and 35 kg of honey. This is a result of the great knowledge of beekeepers, numerous new equipment, good (or better) health care and predominantly by our consciousness, that the appropriate health care of bees is the condition and guarantor for good families and good yields.

The beekeeping society organized numerous lectures, fair visits, we took part of conferences and competitions at home and abroad. Everything listed is raising our knowledge of bees, beekeeping technologies, technical equipment, beekeeping hygiene and in a great measure contributes to larger yields and quality of our produce. Kras is hiding many goods in its embrace.

Kras, a synonyme for a meagre land, hard winter, bora and drought. Somehow in such extreme conditions, autochthonous vegetation, adjusted to Kras is thriving. This is why the fruits of Kras are modest in quantity but rich in quality. Honey of Kras is, due to the climatic conditions and microclime, very dry and ripe honey, rich with minerals and enzymes. Typical honeys from Kras are: mahaleb cherry, wild cherry, acacia, salvia, chestnut, oak, linden, buckwheat and common ivy. Very rich selection of flora and dry climate are reflected in a full and strong aroma of the honey, which decisively contributes to the difference of »Kraški med«, compared to other honeys.

A lot of knowledge and patience is needed in a beekeeper so he can prepare bee families to gather nectar of the listed plants. A few succeed. The society is trying to help every beekeeper to be successful in this. Because in Kras, the flora is unique, and the knowledge of beekeepers is a condition that the gifts of nature can be offered to consumers the way the nature gave them, we have decided to protect this natural geographic resource under the brand »Kraški med«.

We had established a group of manufacturers (25), whom had submitted themselves under the strict measures of certificate of the geographical origin brand and whom had submitted their manufacture to the constant control of higher quality and control of the geographical origin of the »Kraški med« manufacture.

First rate »Kraški med«, can be bought in a store, from the beekeeper and in the marketplace with a label:

President ČD Sežana
Ivan Atelšek