LA Times: Mead comes out of the Dark Ages

LA Times has a piece on the Mead (pardon the pun) renaissance.

Beyond the Hive: Indian tea growers worry about climate change

Tea growers in India say that climate change is having a harmful effect on their crop.

Red Dye No. 40 taints bees' honey

What happens when bees consume sugary waste product from a maraschino cherry factory that contains Red Dye No. 40? Well, it's bad-tasting honey. And who knows what it's doing to the bees.

Voluntary certification process planned for 2011

True Source Honey, a coalition of several honey producers, is created a voluntary certification process to help stem the tide of tainted and/or illegal honey.

Beyond The Hive: Help your local food banks this holiday season

I'm following the lead of South Jersey Locavore and promoting the Check Out Hunger project of the Food Bank of New Jersey. One dollar added to your food bill at the checkout line means little to you, but a lot to the food bank.
While you're at it, please consider donating the free turkey you get for your local supermarket's rewards program to a food bank, and then buying your own turkey. You can visit Feeding America to find a food bank nearest you.

Honey launderer gets jail time, $5M fine

Another honey launderer has been sentenced to 30 months in jail and fined $5 million for illegal labeling of honey. Here's another news release on the case.

Beyond The Hive: From the FBI to spotting food trends

Suzy Badaracco used to work as a drug toxicologist for the FBI; now she uncovers food trends.
Here's her website.

Firm says it has a new technique to detect "tainted" honey

Thermo Fisher Scientific says a new technique can detect tainted honey.

Business Insider weighs in on Colony Collapse Disorder

Writer Dina Spector says not so fast ... CCD can't easily be pinned on a virus/fungus combination, she writes, noting that some folks are starting to shoot holes in the theory that was espoused last week as a breakthrough. Chief amid the criticism is that one of the researchers got grant money from Bayer, which happens to manufacture many of the toxins/pesticides that also have been cited as causes of the bees' poor health.

The new issue of the #bees Daily is out

Here's someplace you can go for news on bees and beekeeping.

Is China moving in on the world's food supply?

Yes, that's an alarming headline, and it's designed to get you thinking Beyond The Hive, as I try to do here on occasion. The "nut graf" of this blog is that it is about honey, bees, mead, agriculture and more. And that means I have to look beyond the Food section for stories about honey as an emerging artisanal food product, or the Features or Home section about the emergence of beekeeping as a hobby. It means heading over to the Business section.
I'm specifically talking about Tuesday's New York Times, whose "Dealbook" column by Andrew Ross Sorkin reports on a potential bid by the Chinese firm Sinochem to take over the Potash Corporation, one of the world's largest fertilizer producers, based in Saskatchewan, Canada.
While there was outrage in 2005 over plans by a Chinese firm to take over an American oil company, so far, this issue is a bit more under the radar...even though food - believe it or not - is more vital to us than oil.
Critics' primary worries are that China could divert the product overseas to its home shores, as well as just the general idea that in some regard, China would have control over a good piece of the food chain.
Meanwhile, it's also worth worrying about that, given the Chinese's recent history (especially) of poison in pet food and banned antibiotics in honey, they could engage in similarly lax quality control in the fertilizer industry.
Right now, the Chinese are mentioned as potential bidder, while Australian mining firm BHP has put in a hostile takeover bid of $130 a share (and pledged to be good to Saskatchewan). (Meanwhile, the Commodity Surge blog notes that rising grain prices might impact BHP's bid.)
Any takeover will have to undergo the scrutiny of Canadian officials. But Americans who are interested in food (that's everyone, people) ought to take notice, as well.

Wall Street Journal gives props to honey

The Journal notes that honey is becoming like chocolate and craft beers - an upscale, artisanal product.

Beyond The Hive: USDA predicts record soybean crop

Building on last year's record production, the United States is expected to produce another record crop of soybeans. The Department of Agriculture notes that this comes in the wake of a very warm summer.
Additionally, the USDA notes that corn production is down, while cotton is up (for the first time since 2005) and orange production is up a whopping 10 percent.

Chicago: Bee talk at Garfield Park conservatory

Thanks to a friend of mine for letting me know -- well in advance -- about this bee talk at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Causes of colony collapse disorder found?

Scientists in a new report indicate a virus and fungus are not present in colonies not infected. Here's NPR's take.

October newsletter from National Honey Board

Here's what arrived in my inbox: recipes for honey pumpkin mousse, pumpkin hummus, honey pumpkin pie and, for the cosmetically inclined, harvest pumpkin exfoliating mask:

Wisconsin beekeepers preparing for winter

After battling a tough summer in 2010, beekeepers in Wisconsin are preparing their hives for the coming winter.

Honey production in Turkey does not translate into exports

Because of marketing and other problems, Turkey does not export much of its honey. This report notes that honey production is not considered a commercial activity in Turkey.

Connecticut beekeepers featured in NY Times

The Times reminds us that honeybees are responsible for pollinating the apple crop.

Battling 'funny honey'

This Associated Press story summarizes the overall issue of suspect honey and how states are battling it. North Carolina is the latest state to take measures to ensure the integrity of honey.

Fall harvest time for honey

This story from Vermont reminds us that fall harvests are beginning everywhere

Bees try to recover from NYC tornadoes

Trees damaged by last week's tornadoes exposed some bee colonies, which now are trying to recover.

Wall Street Journal's "Urban Gardner" mulls beekeeping to fight midlife crisis

Here's the paper's Ralph Gardner contemplating the merits of beekeeping. Thanks to my colleague, Don Groff, for pointing me to this story.

Honey launderer sentenced, faces deportation to China

A man in Washington state was sentenced for his role in a honey-laundering scheme.
Click here and you should get the entire Department of Justice link.

North Carolina sets standards

This news brief shows that North Carolina's honey industry is setting its own standards for "true honey."

Paris: World leader in Urban Beekeeping

This is a bit old, but this report shows that Paris is becoming the world leader in urban beekeeping.

Author Grace Pundyk on NPR

The author of The Honey Trail is talking with NPR host Diane Rehm. If you cannot listen now, the show will be archived.

Department of Justice release on honey-laundering indictments

ELEVEN GERMAN AND CHINESE EXECUTIVES AND SIX COMPANIES TIED TO GERMAN FOOD CONGLOMERATE INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES ALLEGING GLOBAL CONSPIRACY TO ILLEGALLY IMPORT CHINESE HONEY


Plot allegedly avoided nearly $80 million in U.S.
antidumping duties; some honey allegedly
tainted with antibiotics
Courtesy
U. S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Northern District of Illinois


CHICAGO — Eleven individuals and six corporations were indicted on federal charges for allegedly participating in an international conspiracy to illegally import honey from China that was mislabeled as coming from other countries to avoid antidumping duties and included honey that was adulterated with antibiotics not approved for use in honey production, federal law enforcement officials announced today. Ten of the individuals were top executives of corporate defendant Alfred L. Wolff GmbH, or four affiliated defendant companies, a German food conglomerate whose United States honey-importing business was based in Chicago. Between 2002 and 2009, the defendants allegedly conspired to illegally import more than $40 million of Chinese-origin honey to avoid antidumping duties totaling nearly $80 million.

The 44-count indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury does not allege any instances of illness or other public health consequences attributed to consumption of the honey.

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to illegally import Chinese-origin
honey, including honey tainted with antibiotics, into the United States by mislabeling it as originating in other countries to avoid paying antidumping duties and to conceal and expand the illegal smuggling scheme by submitting false documents to obstruct the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Two of the defendants, Stefanie Giesselbach and Magnus von Buddenbrock, both former executives of Alfred L. Wolff , Inc., the Chicago-based U.S. affiliate of the German corporation, were arrested in Chicago before leaving the country in May 2008 and are cooperating in the ongoing investigation. Since then, four Chinese or Republic of China nationals, three of whom are also cooperating, have pleaded guilty to related federal charges — two of them in Federal Court in Chicago and two others in Seattle. Today’s indictment brings the total number of individual defendants charged in the investigation to 15, in addition to the six corporate defendants.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of more than $78 million representing allegedly unpaid antidumping duties. It further seeks forfeiture of more than $39 .5 million, representing the declared value of 606 total entries, or shipments, of Chinese-origin honey that entered the United States between March 2002 and April 2008 and was allegedly falsely declared as having originated in Russia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. It also seeks forfeiture of 2,441 drums of honey seized by the United States in 2008 from storage facilities in Tacoma, Washington; Minneapolis and Eagan, Minnesota; and the Chicago suburbs of Bensenville, Glenview and Itasca.

Between 2001 and July 2007, the Commerce Department imposed antidumping duties on Chinese-origin honey as high as 221 percent and, later, $2.06 per net kilogram of honey through the end of 2008. In October 2002, the Food and Drug Administration issued an import alert for honey containing the antibiotic Chloramphenicol, a broad spectrum antibiotic that is used to treat serious infections in humans, but which is not approved for use in honey production. Honey containing the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Chloramphenicol, and Furazolidone is deemed “adulterated” within the meaning of federal food and drug safety laws.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains a toll-free number for consumer inquiries: 1-888-INFO-FDA (463-6332).

“The charges allege that these defendants aggressively sought and obtained an illegal competitive advantage in the U.S. honey market by avoiding payment of more than $78 million in antidumping duties, and while doing so deliberately violated U.S. laws designed to protect the integrity of our food supply,” said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “Not only was the Government defrauded from collecting substantial antidumping duties, but domestic honey producers and other importers were denied a fair market, according to the indictment, and the defendants distributed adulterated honey that never should have reached the U.S. marketplace,” he added.

“This alleged international fraud conspiracy engaged in illegal and predatory trade practices that threatened our nation’s domestic honey industry,” said Gary J. Hartwig, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Chicago. “The crime of importing mislabeled and adulterated goods restricts U.S. competitiveness in domestic and world markets and creates an uneven playing field for American businesses and honey importers and packers who play by the rules. We aggressively investigate those who violate the laws and regulations that are put in place to protect U.S. businesses and the American public.”
Also announcing the charges were Daniel Henson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, and David Murphy, Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Chicago.

All 11 individuals and six corporate defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy, and all but Giesselbach and von Buddenbrock were charged with multiple additional counts of smuggling honey, falsifying federal Customs and Commerce Department records and violating the federal food and drug safety laws. Ten German national defendants held various executive positions at the Alfred L. Wolff Food Group’s honey businesses between approximately 1999 and 2008. They are: Alexander Wolff, 37, of Hamburg, Germany, who functioned as the chief executive officer of Alfred L. Wolff GmbH from about 2003 through 2009, and controlled the operations of its affiliated food companies and managed the other executives; Jürgen Becker; Tom Weickert; Marcel Belten; Yi Liu, 45, of Beijing; Sven Gehricke, 44; Thomas Marten, 32; Thomas Gerkmann, 37; Stephanie Giesselbach, 32, of Chicago; and Magnus von Buddenbrock, 35, of Chicago.

Also indicted was a Chinese national, Gong Jie Chen, also known as “George Gao” and “George Chen,” 44, who acted as sales manager for defendant QHD Sanhai Honey Co., Ltd., a producer, seller and exporter of Chinese-origin honey in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China. In 2006, Chen allegedly conspired with other defendants to establish QHD as a new front company to fraudulently obtain a reduced individualized antidumping duty-exempt rate from the Commerce Department through a process known as a “new shipper” review. As a result of submitting allegedly false records and documents, the Commerce Department issued QHD a preliminary individualized antidumping duty deposit rate of zero percent.

Arrest warrants will be issued in the U.S. for the nine defendants living outside the country, while Giesselbach and von Buddenbrock, both free on cash bonds, will be arraigned at a later date in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

In addition to QHD, the other corporate defendants are: Alfred L. Wolff GmbH, which was wholly-owned by Wolff & Olsen GmbH & Co. KG, until most of its assets were acquired in February 2010 by Norevo GmbH; Alfred L. Wolff Honey GmbH; Alfred L. Wolff, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary; Alfred L. Wolff (Beijing) Trade Co., Ltd., China; and Alfred L. Wolff Company Ltd., Hong Kong, China.

As part of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges that defendants caused honey en route to the United States to be tested by a German laboratory and, after learning that it contained antibiotics, caused it to be sold to U.S. customers and even re-sold to some after it was rejected by others due to the presence of antibiotics. The indictment does not identify any ultimate food processors, products or brands, stores, or domestic supply chain.

According to the indictment, the defendants engaged in various acts to conceal their conduct and to alter and destroy records and other evidence, including internal emails and documents relating to the new shipper review process, and to obstruct the Commerce Department review.

In May 2006, Marten, who was then general manager of Wolff’s U.S. subsidiary, allegedly emailed Becker and Giesselbach, with a copy to Alexander Wolff, Weickert, Belten and Gerkmann, stating in German, that American Customs had just seized six full container loads of Korean White Honey in Chicago. It ended by stating: “I request that all recipients not to write email about this topic. Please OVER THE TELEPHONE and in German! Thank you!”

In April 2007, in preparation for von Buddenbrock taking over Marten’s duties in Chicago, Marten advised von Buddenbrock that the Alfred L. Wolff companies were fraudulently importing Chinese-origin honey into the country and instructed him to treat the conversation as confidential and not to take notes, the indictment alleges. In October 2007, Liu, then general manager of Wolff’s Beijing affiliate, emailed Belten and Giesselbach, with a copy to Alexander Wolff and von Buddenbrock and attaching a purported sales contract between Wolff Beijing and QHD (the alleged sham new shipper) that stated: “This is a fake sales confirmation from George Gao,” according to the indictment.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew S. Boutros and William Hogan.

The conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while other charges carry the following maximum penalties on each count: illegally importing (or smuggling) honey and obstructing the Commerce Department — 20 years, and entering honey adulterated with antibiotics — 3 years and a $250,000 fine on each count. If convicted, however, the Court would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Feds indict 11 people, 6 firms in 'honey-laundering' case

In what's called the largest food/customs fraud case, federal prosecutors indicted several people and firms for allegedly mislabeling Chinese honey - some of it contaminated with a banned antibiotic - to avoid an estimated $80 million on duties.

New find: Lavender honey from Busy Bee Farm in Southern New Jersey

After my story in the Phila. Daily News and chat about honey this month, a colleague gave me some lavender honey she's fond of from a South Jersey farm.

Pennsylvania paper has column on bees

In its regular Outdoors feature, the column talks about bees.

Warning in California about Africanized bees

The so-called "killer bees" are showing up in San Bernardino County, and, while their reputation as killers is exaggerated, they are easier provoked to sting. Important to remember, though, that, unprovoked, they are beneficial pollinators.

Study: City-bee honey tastier, farm-area bees struggle

This report from a website in India indicates that there is enough bioversity in cities to give bees a good taste of a lot of different plants (pollens) and that bees in farming areas could meet with lower-quality pollens and pesticides.

More local honey, this from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Zoo

Folks at the zoo knew they already had bees, so why not have them do what they do best?

Some neurotoxin in New Zealand honey...via other insects

Low levels of a neurotoxin are being found in certain New Zealand honey. From the news article:

Tutin gets into honey when bees collect honeydew excreted by passion vine hopper insects which have been feeding on the tutu plant. Tutin doesn't harm bees.

Honey in the war in Afghanistan

This blog reports about the use of agriculture to win over the Afghan civilians, including the establishment of hives.

Feature story in Philadelphia Daily News

Here is my feature story from today's Philadelphia Daily News on honey and beekeeping.

Beyond The Hive: How Ahmadinejad's policies hurt small business

This story talks about the struggles of small business in Iran. Here's a telling quote from one merchant:

Even our honey is 'made in China.' Two hundred fifty grams of Chinese honey costs $5, while high-quality Iranian honey costs $20. Who is going to buy the Iranian honey? So they gradually close down their businesses, as was the case with a sugar factory in Hafttappeh.

August 7 is National Mead Day

Some beer bloggers from Florida are quick to point out that Saturday, August 7, is National Mead Day. They include a primer on some mead basics.
Here's the news from the American Homebrewers Association.

Honey recipe contest

The National Honey Board has a contest for original recipes. Enter from now through Sept. 15. Click here for full contest details and an entry form.

Beyond The Hive: America's top farm markets

In honor of National Farmers Market week, the American Farmland Trust has released its lists of the top markets across the country.

Honey exec guilty in import case

An executive of a Chicago import firm pleaded guilty to conspiring to avoid $5 million in duties with mislabeled honey.

Bees ailing in South Dakota; pesticides to blame?

This article talks about some of the bee problems in South Dakota, one of the nation's leading honey producers. I like the mention of alfalfa honey. It's always cool to be reminded of yet another type.

Feral bees of LA

LA couple's beekeeping provides honey for friends and local restaurants.
Here's their website, though I have one quibble: They can't really guarantee that the honey is 100% organic, because bees can fly up to 3 miles to gather nectar, and there's no real guarantee that every last plant they visit is chemical-free.

San Francisco beekeeping

The Chronicle has a feature story about beekeeping in the Bay Area.

Thousands of bees killed in San Francisco by vandals

Thousands of bees were killed after vandals sprayed insecticide into hives.

New beer from 9,000-year-old recipe

Dogfish Head brewery has come up with a new beer, based on a 9,000-year-old recipe that includes honey. It's called Chateau Jiahu.

Chicago Marriott's new honey wheat beer

The hotel, which has hives on the roof, teamed with a brewer to use its own honey in a new honey wheat beer.

"Honest Honey" becomes "True Source Honey"

The "Honest Honey" campaign has undergone a name change. It is now called "True Source Honey," and, according to the website, "is an effort by a number of honey companies and importers to call attention to the problem of illegally sourced honey."

Insulin helps make queen bees

A new study shows that insulin plays a part in the development of queen bees, as opposed to worker bees.

Chicago TV take on Marriott rooftop hives

Here's a TV report on the hives at the Marriott Magnificent Mile.

NY Times op-ed piece touts urban beekeeping

This article extols the virtues of city bees, noting, for instance, that chemical pesticides, etc., from suburban lawnkeeping, etc., potentially find their way into honey more than urban pollutants.

Beyond the Hive competition update

I'm still trying to find the "winner," but this link will take you to the five finalists -- designs for "insect hotels" in London.

Chicago restaurants benefit from local hives

A farm near Chicago has a deal to provide honey to local restaurants.

Beyond the Hive: Casting for "Kitchen Nightmares"

FOX's TV’s Hit Show "KITCHEN NIGHTMARES" is Back!
Casting immediately for its next season!

If your restaurant is having problems and you want Chef Gordon Ramsay to come into your establishment, troubleshoot your problems, and try to get you back on the road to success, contact us NOW!



To be considered:
EMAIL: Twinsworld1@aol.com

Place “KITCHEN NIGHTMARES” in the subject line & Include: Your name, contact info, name of your restaurant, where you are located, type of cuisine you serve, how many seats you have, how long you have been open, photos or website if available, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, why you need our help. The MORE INFO THE BETTER.

Two more takes on the problems of 'honey laundering'

The Washington Post writes about the honey industry's push for "purity" standards, while the Associated Press gives a general overview of the problem.

National Zoo wants your honey recipes, poems

I'm not saying they *couldn't* be one and the same, but the National Zoo, in honor of its new honeybee colony, is seeking your favorite honey recipes and your original poetry about honey. Certainly, an exquisite recipe could be poetry for the palate.

Beyond the Hive: What's on your food?

A new, searchable website offers information on the types of pesticides that can be found on food. We already know that some experts link such chemicals to bee problems; it would not be too much of a leap to find links to human health problems, as well.

Ohio beekeeper feature story

Here's a feature about an Ohio beekeeper and his concerns about colony collapse disorder.

White House video on beekeeper

Here's a short video produced by the White House about bees on the property that generate honey for use in the White House kitchen.

Pennsylvania meadmaker wins wine award

A meadmaker in Cambria County won an international award for his Orange Mead.
The piece includes a short video report on the man. Right now, he makes enough only for friends, but hopes to operate commercially soon.

North Carolina's executive mansion has hives on the grounds

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue has taken an interest in beehives since they were installed on the grounds of the executive mansion.

San Francisco hotel installs hives

The Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco has installed hives in its culinary gardens.

EU bans imports of honey from India

Alleging lead contamination, the European Union has banned the import of honey from India.

New York Senator Schumer assails 'honey laundering'

Sen. Charles Schumer has attacked suspicious trade practices by Chinese honey producers, the so-called "honey laundering." Says Schumer:

Instead of simply selling their product in a fair and competitive way, the Chinese are using illegal, backdoor deliveries and mislabeling their product to accomplish their goal. Today I am calling on the federal government to issue a stinging rebuke to these practices, and once again level the playing field.

Schumer was to take part in Senate hearings. I read that there would be audio of the hearing at the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission website; nothing as of this writing, but check back.

Pollinator Week in Florida

Governor Charlie Crist has signed a proclamation marking the importance of pollinators to food production in Florida.

Honey tainted with dangerous antibiotic seized in Philadelphia

The honey came from China, and contains chloramphenicol, which is not approved for use in animal-related foodstuffs in the United States.

Beekeeper accused of stealing from rival

A Florida beekeeper is accused of stealing bees, equipment and honey from a rival beekeeper.

USDA to survey for bee pests and diseases

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct surveys in 13 states to examine potential causes of bee population decline. It will look at possible pest problems, as well as disease.

Google is in the honey business now

Google has introduced hives to its grounds.

Chicago hotel has hives on the roof

The Los Angles Times has a story about beehives on the roof of the Marriot Downtown, on the Magnificent Mile

Beyond The Hive: Vote for your favorite farmers' market

Everyone knows that a great farmers' market ought to have someone selling honey. Regardless, everyone knows how great farmers' markets are, so here's your chance to vote for your favorite.

English boy a beekeeper, but doesn't eat honey ...

... because he is diabetic. That did not stop him from becoming a novice beekeeper.

Agave nectar? An alternative to honey?

Here's a blogger who found out about something called agave nectar, which comes from plants in Mexico that are described as looking something like aloe plants.

Tennessee doctor produces honey on the side

An internist in Nashville, Tennessee, is a beekeeper on the side, and donates a portion of the proceeds of his honey to a children's hospital.

What is the link between cell phones and bee loss?

Some scientists claim that the radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' life cycle, and is part of the reason for the decline in bee populations.

Great Sunflower Project to track bee population

Scientists report that since bees like sunflowers, there is a way that citizens can plant sunflowers and then track the bees that visit them.
Here's the official link

New York Times sets up a topics/trending page on bees

I'll also put this link along the side of the web page, but here's the NY Times' new Bees page

Cause(s) found to colony collapse disorder?

A new, peer-reviewed study suggests that there are a couple of causes of colony collapse disorder: a fungus and a virus. In short, overwork and poor nutrition, as bees emerge from winter, provide pathways for the two to cause fatal damage.
The new results were released at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

NY guide to urban honey

Here's New York magazine's guide to urban honey in the Big Apple. It has bees 101, hives 101 and even a story on honey tasting. Looks great!

Interest in honey, bees up in Tennessee/Alabama region

Here's an article about honey and bees from a paper that coveres Alabama and parts of Tennessee. One interesting fact within the article: Poplars did not produce much nectar last year, which means beekeepers did not get much dark honey from poplars.

Chef David Guas: Q&A from A Food Coma

Here is my Q&A with chef David Guas, who recently was on the Today Show, talking up some honey recipes.

Beyond The Hive: Agriculture exports up in Wisconsin (honey among them)

Honey is among the export products that helped lead to an 18 percent increase in agricultural exports over the previous year.

Daily Green reports on 'Honest Honey' campaign

Here's a report from the Daily Green about the new effort to let people know about unscrupulous honey packagers.

Survey: People feel deceived about their honey

A new survey by the National Honey Board shows that people feel deceived and outraged about their honey.
But please tell the folks at SaveTheHoneybear.com that the link doesn't work.

Beyond the Hive competition

As part of a celebration of biodiversity, designers in London are invited to participate in a competition to design five-star hotels for insects.

Beyond The Hive: US releases chemical usage on wheat in 2009

Here's the link to the report by the National Agricultural Statistics Service about chemical use on the 2009 wheat crop.
Here is the NASS' report on methodology.

Northern Ireland runs short of honey

Officials are encouraging people to help revive beekeeping because of the shortages of honey.

Wall Street Journal reports on bees' problems

The paper has a feature on the new John Q. and Jane Q. beekeepers.

'Father of modern beekeeping' honored in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's historic commission has honored Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth, the so-called "father of modern beekeeping," because of his patented beehives, gets a state marker in Philadelphia.

Honey loss in India

Destruction of trees important to honeybees in India has led the government to begin an awareness campaign to save what's left.

A honey of a murder case

A honey producer was murdered by a rival in Australia. True crimes, honey version.

Honey production up in Yemen

While the numbers are worth examining further, officials in Yemen report that beekeeping, bee populations and honey production are up.

Honey as an economic development tool

India is using agriculture, including honey production, as a tool of economic development, to help people work and to fight against Maoist insurgents.

Is there a link between some insecticides and declining bee population?

Some experts speculate that a new type of insecticide that coats plants could be harming bees.
On a perhaps related note, the USDA will report on wheat production and chemical use on Wednesday, May, 19, 2010. More to come here, as warrants.

Drought impacts bees in Ethiopia

A drought has forced bees into valleys in Ethiopia; as they search for flowers, their white honey has turned yellow.

Watch the trailer for "Vanishing of the Bees"

Here's the trailer for the film, due out this summer

New Jersey's chief beekeeper

From Rowan University's online journalism class, a feature on NJ's chief beekeeper

The search for local honey in Baltimore

I pass this on, in hopes that someone will have answers: A locavore in the Baltimore area is looking for local honey, hopefully something a little less expensive than what he/she is currently paying.

Store-brand honey

Barely visible on the Shop-Rite brand bottle of honey is the country of origin information: It is a product of U.S., Canada, Argentina, and India.
What's troubling here is what we know about "Indian" honey - that it very well could be Chinese honey relabeled to avoid scrutiny and fair tariffs. And we know that some Chinese has been tainted with antibiotics, from a severe bacterial infection of hives several years ago.
I still endorse the practice of buying local honey. You don't know where those generic store-brands have been.

Maine expert weighs in on colony collapse, etc.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It almost seems as if the interviewer is trying to steer the expert into saying there's no problem with bees, but while the guy hints that maybe there is some "Chicken Little" mentality at work, he also notes how unsustainable industrial farming is. He does focus on the larger issue of biodiversity. What I think we need to be cautious about is removing honeybees from that biodiverse population. It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game, where all the bees die for the sake of allowing other pollinators to practice their work.

New documentary due out this summer: "Vanishing of the Bees"

A new documentary will look at the struggles of the world's bee populations.

The White House garden

This feature story about the White House garden includes this tidbit:

The patch of lawn includes a beehive tended by a carpenter who has worked at the White House for more than two decades and tends bees on the side. The hive has produced 134 pounds of honey so far, and Obama packaged some of it as gifts to the spouses of the world leaders who attended the G20 summit in Pittsburgh last year.

The honey also has found its way into the White House kitchen. Chefs have used it for honey cupcakes and honey vinaigrette salad dressing.

Honey from a stingless bee

Here's an article about a scientist who has studied stingless bees in Kenya, and has tapped their honey. It's said to be sweeter than our ordinary honey.

More on beekeeping, this time from Colorado

This is an earth-friendly column from a publication in Colorado about the importance of bees and beekeeping.

Texas A&M lab can conduct tests to ID country of origin

A scientist at a lab at Texas A&M University can analyze the DNA of the pollen in honey to determine its country of origin.
Melissopalynology is the process Vaughn Bryant undertakes to analyze the pollen and ID where it came from.
The Houston Chronicle has a feature, too.

More on the Honest Honey campaign

AOL senior public health correspondent Andrew Schneider reports on the new Honest Honey campaign. Says Jill Clark, president of Dutch Gold Honey in Lancaster, Pa.:

"When honey is imported illegally, no one can be confident of its true source and quality. Some products are not 100 percent honey and have other quality issues."

The wider world: It's National Honey Week in England

England's Honey Association notes that it's National Honey Week!
Here's a story about Liverpool beekeepers, noting the significance of the week.

Honest Honey campaign begins

A group of marketers and importers has created a new campaign to point out the threat of illegal honey entering the U.S. markets.
The campaign's Honest Honey website is here:

Beetle is a new threat to Hawaii's bees, honey production

It's only about a quarter-inch long, but the small hive beetle is a big threat.

Wild Turkey American Honey Bourbon and B. Nektar Orange Blossom Mead

Found a single-serve bottle of this at the liquor store checkout yesterday, while buying some of this: B. Nektar's Orange Blossom mead. Nice thing about the mead is that it has a little bee indicator strip that shows you whether it is sweet or dry.

Experts: Winter honeybee losses 'unsustainable'

Some experts say that if the kinds of losses we had last winter continue, they are unsustainable.

Colony collapse disorder as art

In London, there is a display of art symbolizing the pain of colony collapse disorder.

Westin hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, adds beehives to roof

Following a new trend, the Westin Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, is adding two new beehives to its roof to help boost the local bee population. Among the benefits will be local honey to be used in the restaurant's meals.

Proposed honey regulation panel

This is from the Federal Register, describing a proposal to create a U.S Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order. It's about halfway down the page. The plan is up for referendum among qualified honey producers.
This is where to go to examine the referendum procedures.
Here is the release from American Bee Journal news source:

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it will conduct a referendum May 17 to June 4, 2010, for eligible producers of U.S. honey to determine whether a new national U.S Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order should be established.

The program will be implemented if approved by a majority of producers voting who also represent a majority of the volume of U.S. honey produced during the representative period. To be eligible to vote in the referendum, producers must have produced 100,000 or more pounds of honey from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2008.

If implemented, the program would be administered by a seven-member board and its alternates – from seven regions – who will be responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of the U.S. honey industry in the marketplace. In addition, the board will work to develop, maintain and expand domestic markets for U.S. honey.

The national coordinated generic program would be financed by a mandatory assessment of two cents per pound paid by U.S. honey producers; a U.S. producer who produces less than 100,000 pounds would be exempt from paying assessments.

The proposed order, referendum order, and referendum procedures for the program were published in the April 12, 2010, Federal Register, and posted on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion and http://www.regulations.gov.

Profits up in Montana, Wyoming, while production drops

This report tells about the increase in prices for honey, even though production has dropped. It also talks about some other health hazards to bees: the vorroa mite and Acrine mite.

Update on honey-production concerns

AOL's public health correspondent has written about the latest concerns over fraudulent honey. Executives from the nations's top honey producers and sellers met in secret Monday to examine the problem.

Mead gets some props from Phila. Inquirer

Here's a little write-up about Tria, a pair of Philadelphia cafes that serve mead from South Africa's Makana meadery.

Honey production in Kenya boosts food security

Here's an article that touts beekeeping and honey production as a form of nation building.

Honey production falls in Hungary

Authorities there say it's not because of colony collapse disorder, but rather that drought in 2008 resulted in a drop in production in 2009.

Yoga Journal article

Thanks to a friend at work for this article on honey from Yoga Journal.

From NY Times in 2008: 'Honey in the Hood'

This is a NY Times article about an urban farm in Philadelphia that, among other things, produces its own honey, dubbed "Honey in the Hood."
On a related note, here is a blog from the urban farm that talks about the centennial of beekeeping in Philadelphia, with mentions of things to come this year.

Fairmont hotels keep it local

USA Today reports that seven hotels in the Fairmont chain have their own beehives to produce their own honey for cuisine and cocktails.

David Guas segment on "Today"

Take a deep breath and hold on for the quick ride on how honey can be used for a honey-chipotle chicken recipe, honey-glazed carrots and honey-sweetened cornbread.

Honeybee festival in Colorado

The festival is designed to bring attention to honey and its makers, the bees. It will be April 16 and 17. This article also includes some recipes

AOL report on the latest case in LA

The Web site's senior public health correspondent also details some of the overarching problems with so-called "honey laundering."
Huffington Post has a link to the same article, as well.

Beekeeping segment on NPR's Science Friday

Ira Flatow talked with some experts about the state of the bee population and about beekeeping.
Look here to get their podcast of the program of April 2, 2010.

Honey importer arrested

The Ethiopian Review reports that an executive of several honey import companies has been arrested and charged with conspiring to falsely label honey to avoid U.S. tariffs. The honey allegedly came from China, but was labeled as coming from South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, which pay lower tariffs than China.

Restore the beekeeping badge!

The Boy Scouts eliminated the beekeeping badge in 1995, but a 13-year-old boy in Oklahoma is campaigning to have the badge restored.
Besides the link just provided, you can go to a Haagen Dazs Web site for info and a petition.

From A Food Coma

Here's something I wrote for a terrific foodie Web site, A Food Coma.

India study: Cell towers, phones disrupt bees' navigation

A new study from New Delhi reports that electromagnetic waves from cell phones and cell towers are a threat to honeybees.

Dr. Sainuddin Pattazhy, who conducted the study, found that:

...when a cell phone was kept near a beehive, the worker bees were unable to return, leaving the hives with only the queens and eggs and resulting in the collapse of the colony within ten days.

A taste of honey - in the form of mead

Though I've had a few postings here about mead, I'd yet to taste some - until Saturday night.
I opened the chilled bottle and let it breathe, and then poured a small glass. The first thing that strikes you about a glass of mead - at least this one, HoneyRun Mead, Ragnar's Reserve - is that, yes, it still smells like honey. I wasn't sure what things to expect, but that certainly wasn't one of them, surprisingly.
The label says it's dry, but dry is relative (those who drink Champagne know that Extra Dry is actually not as dry as Brut). This was a bit sweet, and it wasn't what I expected from dry. I wasn't sure it would pass my admittedly low muster. But I did a quick review of what-goes-with-what, and realized that for me to gain the full effect, the mead needed a good partner. In this case, the spiciest thing I had on hand was salsa. Out came the salsa and some chips - and, lo and behold, a great combination.
In short, mead ain't wimpy, and needs a good, strong, complementary partner.
The store where I usually buy my wine had only two bottles of mead in stock, including the one mentioned above. But interestingly enough, the manager told me that she just had a tasting from a distributor and that they hope to carry more mead soon. Looks like a long, sweet (or dry) learning curve.

Mead winners

Meadfest has posted its 2010 winners:

Beekeeping in San Francisco

The New York Times reports about how much beekeeping has taken off in San Francisco.

More reports about the state of bees

From CBS News
Columbus Dispatch in Ohio
A Bucknell University feature; the college is in Pennsylvania
Discover weighs in

Maryland beekeeper urges honey standards

Advocating that the state follow the lead of Florida, California and, now, Wisconsin, a Maryland beekeeper wants state standards for honey.

Knee-deep in honey

A columnist for a Canadian paper is touting the idea of buying "honey shares" of a local apiary as a way to ensure their success - and that of the bees.

New York Times headline: Too-busy bees

Here's an op-ed piece from the Times about the wear and tear on the bee population.

Bees worse off than ever after bad winter; pesticides no help

The Associated Press reports that the tough winter was tough on bees.
And besides the bad weather, colonies are found to be tainted with insecticides and other poisons
Here is Newser's take on the matter.
Treehugger's report.
And here is an older report from the New York Times that also details some of the problems.
The accompanying graphic is also from the Times.

Massachusetts meadmakers

Here's a feature about a meadery in Massachusetts.

Bee mite hits Hawaii

The verroa mite, a destructive parasite, is spreading across Hawaii.

Introducing: Mellifluous, a band from Glasgow, Scotland

Here's the MySpace page for a band with the same name as this blog. If you're into rock music, head here. If you're into honey, too, stick with this blog.

New Jersey beekeepers featured in article about honey, spring

Here's a feature story from the Asbury Park Press, which notes that spring means the re-emergence of local bees, producing local honey.

Wisconsin sets honey standards

Gov. Jim Doyle has signed into law a measure that sets new standards for honey produced in Wisconsin, and allows for voluntary labeling of honey that is certified organic.
Here is The Progressive Mind's take on the matter.
This is the account from the American Bee Journal.
And here is an article from the Kenosha News about one of the beekeepers behind the move.

Honey as legal tender

Organizers have created an eco-friendly community site, complete with beehives, in Oxford, England. The land will be rented from Corpus Christi College for the price of one jar of honey annually.

Update: NYC OKs beekeeping

The apiary community is no longer filled with outlaws, as NYC health officials approve beekeeping in the city:
Staten Island Live
Daily Finance
City Room: NY Times blog

Cold weather affecting bees

The columnist on beekeeping for The Daily Green reports that colder temperatures in the South have affected queen bees.

Article details beekeeping troubles

Here is a long piece from the Globe and Mail in Toronto that details some of the concerns about honeybees, colony collapse disorder and other potential problems. One scientist here calls the problem "agricultural collapse disorder."

Honey production down in India

The Times of India reports that bees are dying in parts of India, resulting in a drop in honey production.
In one district, the number of beekeeping boxes has dropped from 100 to fewer than 20; in another, the number has dropped from 25 to one.

NYC may end outlaw status of beekeepers

The New York Times reports that the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will consider measures to allow beekeeping within the city limits.

Country of origin

Honey containers are required to have the country of origin on the label. Here is a link to news about that USDA rule.

Illinois considers honey regulations, but ...

While the Illinois Department of Public Health contends that unregulated honey is a health risk, lawmakers are considering a bill to exempt small beekeeping and honey-producing operations in the state, saying that large-scale regulations would hurt small business.

Honey scare shuts down California airport

This is right up the alley of one of my heroes, security guru/iconoclast Bruce Schneier: Back in January, TSA agents shut down the Bakersfield, California, airport when luggage screeners mistakenly thought honey was an explosive substance.
From Natural News:

Luggage screeners discovered five Gatorade bottles full of an "amber" liquid. TSA agents then opened the bottles and complained they smelled "a strong chemical odor." They then complained of nausea and were taken to the local hospital for treatment.

North, South Dakota honey production

As word of the U.S. Agriculture stats spreads, I'm sure that we'll see these reports, state by state. Here is one from South Dakota.
And here's a story about the nation's leading honey producer, North Dakota.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer's exhaustive honey report

I just came across this link, to this multi-faceted report about the global honey industry. Looks like some amazing reading. I likely will comment more as I read it, but here it is, for your perusal.

U.S. government: Honey production down 12 percent

The American Beekeeping Federation notes that honey production dropped 12 percent from 2008 to 2009.
And here is the official report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Welcome

There is nothing fast about honey.
Certainly, heaving a few spoonfuls of sugar into your morning tea or coffee is quicker. And precious seconds fly by as you wait for the honey to pour from the jar onto your toast or bagel.
Rumor has it that 2,000-year-old honey found in an Egyptian tomb was still edible.
Nutritionists say that it's a great sweetener not only because it has a lot of stuff that's good for you, but also because it stays with you longer than the empty calories of sugar and other sweeteners.
And bees take a long time to make it.
There's also nothing simple about honey. Varieties range from the Budweiser-like, mass-market equivalent to what might be likened to a microbrew that is as unique as the flowers the bees visited to produce it.
Honey has a rich history; its makers (the bees, more than the people) are vital to the world's food supply; and its uses in cooking are probably as many as there are cooks.
The title of this blog comes from the Latin word "mel," which means honey.
I'm a longtime honey lover, but I'm still a newbie honey foodie. Please join me on this journey.