Tupelo Honey Production Down in 2017

  • By Jerry Garlick
  • •
  • 05 Jan, 2017
  • •

Tupelo Honey in Trouble

Tupelo honey production will be down in 2017 over prior years. Beekeepers in the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee  Rivers basin are attributing the problem to “wandering bee syndrome.”  While the exact cause of the problem is unknown, the effects are quite well known - up to 70% of the bees are in trouble.
Healthy Tupelo Honey Beehive
Healthy Tupelo Honey Beehive
Beekeepers describe effected bees are leaving the beehives and not returning, thus the “wandering bee syndrome” moniker. They believe the problem has something to do with the brain, whereby the bee becomes confused and can’t find its way home.

Some of the causes may be:

  1. Apocephalus Borealis - leading cause of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), this is a parasitic fly which bites the bee and injects its eggs into them. The eggs hatch ultimately killing the bee.
  2. Bacterial infection
  3. Pesticides and fungicides

ZomBee Watch

Apocephalus Borealis has become such a problem in the nation, with the West Coast first reporting infections back in 2008 and East Coast’s first finding in Vermont in 2013, that a grassroots initiative and website - ZomBee Watch - has been developed to report findings and infections.
ZomBee Watch Florida Map
ZomBee Watch Florida Map

So far there have been no findings or infections in Florida.  

However, a bunch of students from Florida State University are investigating the problem. Shortly, they will be traveling 2 hours west to see the problem first hand and to begin studying the issue.  Unfortunately, scientists have been trying to determine the cause of CCD for the last few years and no clear cause has been found to date.

Tupelo Trees to Bloom

What makes the problem even more acute is that the source of Tupelo Honey, the Tupelo Tree, is about to bloom for 2017.  It's only a 3 week season and January and February are critical months for bee health and survival to produce in March, April, and May.  With a 70% loss of bees, not to mention what inclement weather (hail in 2015) could do to the blossoms, tupelo honey production will be considerably down in 2017.

If there are no bees, there will be no tupelo honey.  

Shortly, I will be traveling “deep into the swamp” and go to the apiaries to report on the condition of the bees, tupelo trees, and projections.    

Fortunately, because of my close relationship with an Apalachicola andOchlockoneeRivers basin beekeeper, I will be able to procure all of his production.  

So, Who’s Your Honey Man?

If you are looking to purchase Tupelo Honey, call 850-653-3550.  Or just order from the website.  

Tupelo Honey Production 2017 Update

By Jerry Garlick • March 26, 2017
Recent forecasts of limited 2017 Tupelo Honey production , due to wandering bee syndrome and other causes, may have been overstated.  

Things are looking up! The bees are making honey strong right now. They have stopped dying and we are actually back to building them up. In fact everything looks good at the apiary for a good honey production this year!

Currently, the bees are on high and low bush gallberry - part of the Holly family - a delicious Florida nectar source. Next will be the Palmetto which tastes somewhat like lavender.

The weather dictates what kind of season the Tupelo Honey crop will produce. In recent years, when you get a rainstorm and a windstorm at the same time, it washes off the bloom  destroying the majority of tupelo tree buds and the bees had slim pickings from which to draw nectar, making for a severely limited supply of Tupelo Honey.  It is a short, fast and furious season for everything to go right to produce a great Tupelo Honey season.  I will keep you posted as the season unfolds.

I have plenty of Tupelo Honey on hand regardless of what happens in 2017.   Tupelo Honey does not crystallize and I have an abundant supply.

So, Who’s Your Honey Man?

If you are looking to purchase Tupelo Honey, what many consider to be the "best honey in the world," call 850-653-3550.  Or just order from the website.