APIS Volume 10, Number 6, June 1992
In this issue
- Honey Quality--"Fresh" Honey
- Caribbean Apicultural Development Assn.--CADA
- Pollination Paradox--Why Bees Are Not Good Pollinators?
- On Forest Stewardship
HONEY QUALITY--"FRESH HONEY"
My experience in Europe revealed that many on the Continent are concerned about honey freshness. We in the United States, like our friends from Europe, are interested in quality measured by moisture content, flavor, aroma, and freedom from debris and crystals. Freshness, however, has not been an urgent issue. After all, little can happen to honey over time unless it ferments. And who hasn't heard about that timeless sweet still reported to be edible when taken from clay pots in ships sunk some 2,000 years ago!
Honey freshness, however, is not just an academic concept when it comes to the export market. And Europe, after all, is a major importer of honey. A recent paper provides an analysis of how values have been set in the Codex Alimentarius Commission (1969) for measuring freshness using diastase activity and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. M.T. Sancho, and colleagues from Spain ("Aging of Honey," Journal of Agric. Food Chem., Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 134-138, 1992) studied 115 honeys from a wide range of plants found in the Basque country. Their conclusions: The great majority of honeys examined would be out of freshness in 2 years; to be safe, they should be consumed at least one year after extraction. There is little question that honeys lose their freshness quickly given the measurements reported in the study. The other side of the coin, however, is whether aging necessarily means a loss in other qualities that honey is known for. Until more studies on this issue are complete, however, it's not good form to ignore the capitalistic rule that "the customer is always right." If you wish a copy of the paper, please phone or write.
CARIBBEAN APICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (CADA)
The Caribbean Apicultural Development Association (CADA) was recently formed in response to information shared at the First Regional Training Workshop for Beekeepers, May 11-13, 1992, Castries, St. Lucia. Fifty-six beekeepers and officials involved in apiculture from 19 nations met to exchange technical information and discuss apicultural development problems in the region. A major conclusion by those in attendance was that few, mostly weak, beekeeping associations exist at the national level throughout the Caribbean. Because of this, it is believed that a strong regional beekeeping development effort could significantly help nations upgrade their individual apicultural programs. Particular issues deemed important to beekeeping development in the Caribbean are:
- Possible introduction/establishment of the African honey bee and diseases and pests of honey bees, particularly the Varroa bee mite, on many islands presently free of such organisms.
- Integration of beekeeping into environmental conservation and agroforestry initiatives presently underway in the region.
- Formation of a viable queen-rearing industry in the region.
- Provision of technical information to beekeepers in the region and increasing possibilities for diversifying the marketing of bee products.
The new Caribbean Apicultural Development Association (CADA) has a five- member steering committee. A first edition of the CADA newsletter is being sent to a large mailing list throughout the Caribbean. At present, there is no limitation on membership. The region is being defined broadly to include anybody on an island or mainland nation with an interest in the area. Communications should be sent to the newsletter editor, Dr. Daniel Pesante, University of Puerto Rico, Animal Science Dept., College Station, 5000 Mayaguez, P.R. 00681,ph 809-265-3854; FAX 809-265-0860. The next meeting of the CADA will be held in Trinidad in September.
POLLINATION PARADOX
In January and February of last year, I wrote about the honey beeblueberry connection. As you may recall, the honey bee is not the most efficient pollinator of blueberries, especially some varieties adapted to the South. An article entitled: "Honeybees are Poor Pollinators - Why? (Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol. 177:7175) by Christian Westerkamp discusses some of the biological reasons that honey bees are not always the best pollinators.
The principle thesis of the paper is that honey bees, because of the colony's perennial life over many generations, cannot afford to adapt to the needs of one or a few plant species. These insects must take advantage of as many plants as possible and thus remain generalists. This is good for bees as well as beekeepers, for it guarantees productivity in a great many geographic locations. However, it also means that few if any honey bee adapted flowers exist and so pollination by these insects is a hit and miss affair. The paper's conclusion: "Considering the high number of flower and pollinator species and the multitude of their respective interrelations it is obvious that a single species cannot take over all pollinatory tasks...Honeybee monocultures thus must be avoided or overcome and a manifoldness of pollinators must be fostered instead by all means."
In an effort to better exploit wild pollinators, a fledgling bumble bee industry is developing. Unfortunately, much of the research in this area is proprietary. Nevertheless, a newsletter is being published called Bumblebeequest: Yearround Rearing. The latest issued discusses why buzzing (bumble bees do it; honey bees don't) is important for tomato flower pollination, lists pathogens, like viruses, that attack wild bees and explores the risks of introducing exotic bumble bees which would compete with other native bee species. Subscriptions are available for Canada $20.00/yr. Send a check payable to "Bombus" to Dr. D.T. Fairey, Agriculture Canada, Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB, Canada TOH OCO.
Those interested in bumble bees, as well as other pollinators, might wish to attend the International Workshop on Non-Apis Bees and Their Role as Crop Pollinators, August 9-13 at Utah State University, Logan, UT. To register ($120 before July 17), call 1800/538- 2663.
In spite of evidence that honey bees are not perfect pollinators in all situations, fans of these insects don't need to despair. The fact that honey bees are generalists means they can be used as pollinators for a wide variety of crops. And in most circumstances, they are the insect of choice when it comes to employing practical pollination practices.
ON FOREST STEWARDSHIP
I am in receipt of the first issue of The Florida Forest Steward. This quarterly newsletter for Florida landowners and resource professionals seeks to inform land managers about the new Florida Forest Stewardship Program. Initiated by the National Association of State Foresters and funded by the USDA Forest Service, the program in Florida has enlisted the aid of six state agencies to help managers of lands of 25 acres or more to develop their own stewardship design. Nine incentive programs (SIP) are eligible for financial assistance: Reforestation and Afforestation, Forest and Agroforest Improvement, Soil and Water Protection and Improvement, Riparian and Wetland Protection Improvement, Aquatic Habitat Enhancement, Wildlife Habitat Enhancement and Forest Recreation Enhancement.
The unique thing about this program, according to the newsletter, is that it is not just timber oriented. Because of this multipurpose approach, it would seem that land could also be managed to enhance honey bee habitat. A good case can be made for the potential value of bee pollination in several of the SIPs mentioned above. This appears to be an excellent chance for enlisting some professional aid in developing/conserving nectar and pollen-producing areas and perhaps increasing the number of potential beeyard locations.
One way to begin is to get on the newsletter mailing list and also ask for a copy of the publication: Florida's Forest Stewardship Program: An Opportunity to Manage Your Land for Now and for the Future. These can be requested from: Dept. of Forestry Extension Office, University of Florida, 118 Newins Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611. Study the materials, then make appropriate suggestions to the manager of lands where your beeyards are located, and to forestry resource professionals. Remember that this opportunity is just that; nothing will come from it without a push by the beekeeper.
Malcolm T. Sanford
Bldg 970, Box 110620
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Phone (904) 392-1801, Ext. 143 FAX: 904-392-0190
http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~entweb/apis/apis.htm
INTERNET Address: MTS@GNV.IFAS.UFL.EDU
©1992 M.T. Sanford "All Rights Reserved
