Ron Mossop's dedication to high standards and integrity have been recognised in a new scholarship for young beekeepers. Photo / File
Ron Mossop's dedication to high standards and integrity have been recognised in a new scholarship for young beekeepers. Photo / File
A man who set up an international Tauranga business which now spans four generations has been honoured with a new scholarship being named after him.
The Ron Mossop Youth Scholarship in Beekeeping was this month launched by Apiculture New Zealand and Mossop's Honey.
Director Neil Mossop said the tribute to his father was an honour.
Mossop's Honey was founded in 1947 and was established in Tauranga in 1960. It has never left Mossop hands and is now an international company based at its Tauriko site.
Neil Mossop said the family business had evolved over the years but retained the values that were important to his father, "including maintaining high standards in beekeeping practice".
"We are keen to see those values reflected in a scholarship programme targeting young people."
Mossop's Honey's Duane Mossop, Neil Mossop, Wendy Mossop, and Ryan Mossop have worked with Apiculture New Zealand to launch a new scholarship in beekeeping. Photo / Supplied
Mossop's Honey was approached by Apiculture New Zealand which wanted to bring in a scholarship for young beekeepers and use the Mossop name, Neil Mossop said.
"They said their criteria had to be a course of excellence and they wanted something of quality. It's an honour."
Neil Mossop now acts in a support role to his wife, Wendy, and sons, Duane and Ryan, who run the business.
He said there needed to be a better, more professional, approach to training and the industry was keen to see the sector become more values-focused.
"They have recognised us as a family with values. They recognised my father, and it actually reflects on us. It's really good."
Apiculture New Zealand said Ron Mossop was a leading pioneer in the industry, starting out his family beekeeping business in the 1940s and building a values-based family business focused on quality and integrity.
The scholarship fund will be awarded annually.
Chief executive Karin Kos said the scholarship aimed to support young New Zealanders in learning best practice beekeeping, provide a way for youth to engage positively in a vocation and promote a better understanding of the value of honeybees to our environment and to the food chain.
"Our organisation recently introduced the New Zealand Apprenticeship in Apiculture, and this scholarship aligns with the objectives around best practice beekeeping," Kos said.
The scholarship includes $2000 for one year towards an agreed training programme and a one-year Apiculture New Zealand membership to the value of $115, and attendance at the Apiculture New Zealand national conference in the year the scholarship is awarded.
