This year, the sweetest fair event gathered a large number of exhibitors from all over the region. Over 180 exhibitors, from 6 foreign countries, at 5,000 m² of closed exhibition spaces, presented themselves with various honey and bee products, as well as beekeeping equipment. For the first time, exhibitors from South Korea also exhibited at this Fair, which showed that this Fair has exceeded the borders of Europe.

Beekeeping, as a traditional agricultural branch in the Republic of Croatia, has great economic significance, not only in Croatia but also in the economy of many foreign countries. That is shown by the constant increase in the number of beekeepers and bee communities. That is why this Beekeeping Fair, as the sweetest and one of the largest exhibition and sales events of the Bjelovar Fair, was a real opportunity for our beekeepers to break into international markets.

The 16^th International Beekeeping Fair was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, and was adorned with various bee products and honey preparations that are increasingly breaking into the market as healthy products that are included in all food segments. The complete offer of bee products and equipment for beekeeping this year was combined in a closed heated spaces in pavilions 2 and 8, which gave exhibitors the opportunity to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the largest Beekeeping Fair in Europe. In addition, for both visitors and the beekeepers themselves, this was an ideal opportunity to get to know all the charms of bee products in one place and to equip themselves for the new season of working with bees.

During the two days of the fair, a number of activities were carried out. In Pavilion 4, numerous lectures were held on various current topics in beekeeping. The best experts in the field of beekeeping shared their knowledge with all interested beekeepers.

All those interested were given the opportunity to get acquainted with innovations in beekeeping, and to participate in an amateur competition in the preparation of ginger breads. The best gingerbreads were prepared by Ivana Marušić, Nada Hrženjak and Mirjana Jantolek. In addition, the most beautifully decorated exhibition space of the Beekeeping Fair was awarded. This year’swell-deserved award was given to the stand of the Marušić beekeeping family.

Beekeeping Fair was again enriched with the 7^th exhibition of wine and viticultural equipment, so that winelovers could once again enjoy a good drop of wine and the fruits of our hard working winemakers. The exhibition was held in Pavilion 1, and was accompanied by agricultural family farms offering homemade cheeses and cured meat products. The most beautiful wine labels were also evaluated, and the title of the most beautiful was taken by the Topolovčan Winery for the Rhine Riesling. In second and third place were the wines of the South Balaton wine region, and the label of Graševina Winery Mihalj.

The Bjelovar Fair, the Croatian Beekeepers ‘Association and the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Beekeepers Association were responsible for the organization of this honey-wine story.