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The Journey
The “Morava” company was established in 1993, but the passion for beekeeping and honey cultivation goes back even further. Its roots date back to 1971 when the founder of “Morava,” Mr. Gëzim Skermos, was entrusted with the manager position in 20 bee parks in Korça. Later, one of these parks turned into a private enterprise where 50 beehives were buzzing, and Mr. Skermo’s relatives, who were passionate about beekeeping, worked.
Indeed, the beginning was challenging as there was a lack of equipment and limited space, and work had to be done using leftover materials from the communist era. Hence, the workers had to carry out every artisanal process. But the vision was clear: knowledge and opportunities had to be expanded! Thus, Mr. Skermo and his relatives started visiting other bee farms, traveling to Greece, Italy, France, England, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Germany. They learned a lot from all these farms and returned to their small family park with new goals and better experiences.
Thanks to years of experience and dedication, today, “Morava” is no longer a park with 50 beehives but a giant company with around 400 stationary hives and about 100 migratory hives. “Morava” offers a fantastic variety of honey products and does not compromise on quality.
“Morava” honey can be found everywhere. Starting from Korça, where the company operates, to Gjirokastër, Përmet, Delvinë, Vlorë, Librazhd, Pogradec, Gramsh, and every corner of the country, including Kosovo.
But even Albanians abroad or foreigners can enjoy “Morava” honey through the first farm, which is also the largest for production, packaging, and labeling of honey and its by-products; it can be found in the USA, Switzerland, and China.
The farm is established and maintained according to the highest standards set by the European Union, being awarded numerous certificates of recognition and diplomas that demonstrate the high quality of “Morava” honey. The products have been presented and promoted at many fairs within and outside the country. Some of the fairs where “Morava” has participated include:
In 2012, “Morava” products were certified with the ISO 22000 Food Quality Standard and HACCP.
The “Morava” bee farm is widely recognized by locals and foreign visitors who greatly appreciate its honey and by-products. In recent years, visits by foreign tourists have increased, reaching a figure of 2,000 visitors per year. They mainly come from Italy, Germany, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom, but there are also visitors from China, Japan, the USA, and Arab countries. This results from the taste and high quality of “Morava” products.
The only one exporting “Made in Albania”
Through the products we produce and trade, we aim to promote one of the essential values of Albanian culture, the breathtaking nature and the Mediterranean climate that allows diverse flowers to bloom every season. The quality of our products demonstrates that Albania has extraordinary potential to produce honey and its by-products and present the world with a variety of “Made in Albania” products.
The perfect place for
The “Morava” Farm is a fantastic tourist destination and is visited by various groups of tourists from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Germany, Israel, Greece, Italy, and the entire Balkans. They visit the farm to admire the breathtaking landscapes and learn more about the company’s history and how we proceed with honey production. They also enjoy the diversity of our produced honey and traditional farm drinks, such as honey lemonade, fermented plum rakia with honey, propolis, and more.
Furthermore, the “Morava” Farm is visited throughout the year by students participating in beekeeping internships. They learn about the entire food chain of honey, from the flower blossom to the serving of honey on the table. At the farm, many professionals teach children how to love, care for, and protect bees as vital beings for our planet.
But why is the
There are several reasons why “Morava” manages to meet the demands of the domestic market and other countries:
Climate: The climate in the area where our farm is located is highly suitable since the presence and variety of spring flowers, warm summer, and humid autumn ensure perfect honey production.
Region: Korça is a special place for beekeeping as it is close to two lakes, Lake Prespa and Lake Ohrid, which influence the region’s microclimate and the air humidity during the summer, allowing flowers and plants to continue blooming.
Apiaries: The “Morava” farm has several apiaries with acacia, white clover, and flower-filled meadows, as well as rich mountainous apiaries with trees such as pine, spruce, oak, juniper, beech, maple, and more. These areas have rich endemic flora and medicinal plants such as wild thyme, wormwood, chamomile, black horehound, chicory, valerian, basil, and mint.
Laboratory analysis: Every process is carried out in the farm’s laboratory. Honey samples are taken from the hives and undergo detailed analysis using state-of-the-art European-standard technology. The laboratory performs detailed analyses of the honey, its origin (plant or animal-based), which apiary it comes from, pollen concentration, ripeness, and specific analyses for bees, whether they have been treated with different medications.
Moreover, the laboratory conducts analyses of honey from the “Morava” farm and detailed analyses of honey collected from farmers and beekeepers from the entire country.
The honey goes through several processes once the analysis test approves it. It then undergoes production and packaging. For the latter, the “Morava” company has two lines for filling and packaging honey:
The processes through which honey passes are carried out using the best equipment, according to European standards. From the stainless steel tanks, water baths for heating, and filtration systems to the machines that perform filling and labeling, all are certified by European-accredited bodies specifically for this industry. The final process the honey undergoes is storage, and it is now ready to be released onto the market.
The “Morava” farm has a spacious area; each environment is unique and distinct. The farm is certified with ISO 22000-2005, a high European standard food certificate accredited by TUV AUSTRIA. Additionally, a detailed control by the National Food Authority is conducted monthly, analyzing each process.
“Morava” is the sole exporter of Albanian honey worldwide. The export quantity varies from 20 to 40 tons of honey, mainly to Singapore, the USA, China, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.