Hosted by Robin Sussingham
Bees are how much of the crops around the globe are pollinated and news about worldwide colony collapse disorder has been a serious topic since 2006. Robin Sussingham talks with Dr. Jamie Ellis, a professor of entomology and director of honey bee research at the University of Florida, about bees and agriculture. He discusses what is hurting the bee population and how beekeeping is becoming much more robust.
Florida’s honey bees are big business, not only for local crops and honey production but also because hives are being transported to help pollinate crops around the country. Farmers rely on beekeepers and traveling hives to ensure their crops keep up with demand. It’s easy to understand how professional and amateur beekeepers are an important part of nutrition management for all of us, and we learn about backyard beekeeping and how Bee Colleges are becoming well-attended to learn best hive practices..
We’re lucky in Florida to have some of the most diverse types of honey so why is honey so expensive? Did you know that tasting honey is much like wine tasting? Because bees can fly five miles or more from their hives to gather delicious nectar, honey combs can contain essences from a wide range of florals. Those different flowers come through and combine to create a plethora of flavors. Florida’s tupelo honey is one of the most popular and sought-after flavors but it’s not the only type or grade that plays a role in the honey market. Dr. Ellis talks about what is threatening bees from mites to chemicals to hurricanes, even bee nutrition and how it impacts honey production and more.
Local honey, bee clubs, fake honey… we touch on so much in this episode, and what you’ll hear really impacts every single one of us.