Ukrainian refugee scoops gold at honey awards

A Ukrainian refugee living in Devon who started a business selling honey from her homeland has received national recognition.

Maryna Georgieva, from Moretonhampstead, fled the war in 2022 with her two children and started her company Honeyland, where she imports honey produced in Ukraine to sell in the UK.

Last month her product won gold at the London International Honey Awards.

Ms Georgieva said the award belongs to all the "incredible" Ukrainian beekeepers who had "collecting honey during the most challenging of times".

Ms Georgieva said she only planned to stay in Devon for six months before returning home but the continuing conflict scuppered her plans.

She said her signature buckwheat honey was "unusual" and "unique in taste", similar to manuka honey.

On her award, she said she was "very happy and proud to win gold".

Ms Georgieva said she has an "ambitious plan" to deliver Ukrainian honey across the country and get it into every major supermarket.

"I'm limited in time so I live on high speed," she said.

"We're on a mission to make people in the UK fall in love with Ukrainian honey."

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