A Taste of Honey

Honey!

Say that at the American Honey Producers' Association (AHPA) convention Jan. 5-9 in Sacramento, and it's not a term of endearment.

It's an occupation, a calling and a passion. 

This is their 41st annual convention and the talk is serious about the declining honey bee population. 

AHPA's mission is to promote the common interest and general welfare of the American honey producer.

Two representatives from the University of California, Davis, are among the speakers. 

Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen, member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology faculty, will conduct a nosema workshop. Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, will discuss "Honey Bee Genetic Diversity and Stock Importation Protocols."

Those are just a few of the topics. Others include: 

• "EPA's Commitment to Protect The Honey Bee" by Steve Bradbury, EPA Deputy Director, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington, D.C.
• "Why Do We Keep Losing Bees?: An Update on the Work at the Beltsville Bee Lab" by Judy Chen, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD.
• "Where Value Goes Beyond the Truck: What Every Beekeeper Should Know About Transporting Bees" by Richard Ericksrud, WC Freight LLC, New York Mills, Minn.
• "A New Breakthrough in Mite Treatments: Mite Away Quick Strips" by David Vanderdusen, NOD Apiary Products, Ontario, Canada
• "The Sierra Club: Working to Protect Pollinators (The Nicotine Bees Preview)" by Neil Carman, Sierra Club chemist, Austin, Texas
• "New Research on Small Hive Beetles, Management and Breeding Russian Honey Bees for Almond Pollination" by Tom Rinderer, research leader, USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, LA

Scores of other informative lectures are planned. One of them is about why honey is good for you. Physician Ron Fessenden of Colorado Springs, a founder of the Committee for the Promotion of Honey and Health, Inc., will speak on "The Honey Revolution--Restoring the Health of Future Generations."

Think of honey as not only nature's sweetener but something that can give you medical benefits.

Now that's a good way to start the year off right!

Hap-bee New Year!