Now the product name is protected at the national level, which will open opportunities for its protection at the international level in the future.

 

The Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO / IP Office) has registered the geographical indication (GI) Frumushika steppe honey.

 

The applicant for registration was the public association “Agro-Ecological and Recreational Cluster “Frumushika-Nova” in Tarutino district of Odesa region (Bessarabia). Until 1946, the village of Frumushika-Nova existed in this area, but it was destroyed by the soviet authorities due to the establishment of a military training ground. Basically, these factors determined the name of the GI.

 

Characteristics

 

The new GI protects natural polyfloral, flower or honeydew honey, produced by bees through the collection and processing of nectar from the wild steppe flora of the Tarutynskii steppe.

 

It has a brownish-yellow color with a greenish hue. Its aroma is reminiscent of white fruits, dry grass, and wax. The taste is also vivid, with notes of white fruits, apple, and pear, with slight acidity and a mild bitter aftertaste.

 

Geography and flora

 

The territory where Frumushika steppe honey is produced is characterized by a combination of climatic, biological, and human factors that determine its uniqueness. The presence in the past of a military training ground with a large protected zone in the Tarutynskii steppe created conditions similar to the natural requirements of the steppe ecosystem, with the absence of plowing. Nearby, areas of steppe vegetation with ravine forests and shrubs have been preserved.

 

More than 650 species of vascular plants grow in the Tarutynskii steppe, over 30 of which are included in regional, national, and international Red Lists. The area is rich in medicinal and melliferous plants. Among them are:

 

• white acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), which grows wild here,

 

• viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare),

 

• sainfoin milkvetch (Astragalus onobrychis),

 

• sand sainfoin (Onobrychis arenaria) and many others.

 

Production

 

Beekeeping in Bessarabia has a long history and traditions based on a number of factors:

 

• a specific moderately continental climate;

 

• a unique flora that provides nectar with a distinctive taste and aroma characteristic of this region.

 

All production processes of Frumushika steppe honey (preparation of hives, health checks of bee colonies, placement of apiaries, frame selection, extraction, settling, filtration, packaging, and storage, etc.) are strictly regulated and carried out exclusively within the designated zone.

 

It should be noted that apart from beekeeping, this region is also renowned for other products and traditional crafts that express its uniqueness and authenticity. In particular, the GIs Frumushika Wine and Frumushika Sheep were previously registered.

 

Reference:

 

A geographical indication is a way to protect tradition, confirm quality, and increase product recognition on the market. For regions, it is a tool of cultural positioning, economic growth, and tourist attractiveness.

 

Registration of a GI makes it possible to:

 

• protect the product name at the national and international levels;

 

• increase consumer trust and expand sales markets;

 

• preserve unique knowledge and traditions;

 

• stimulate the development of related sectors: gastrotourism, creative industries, local businesses.

 

Read also:

 

Geography of Independence: the origins of Ukrainian geographical indications

 

UANIPIO Annual Report 2024: European Integration and Innovation Development