Steve Esau of Little Bee Project inspects a hive near Ormewood Park on Atlanta's east side. Threats to bees include parasites like the varroa mite, pesticides, bacterial diseases and poor nutrition, among other things. Photo by Armani Martin
By Rachel Taylor
May 11, 2017
"Can you imagine life without bees?
Yeah, it hurts to be stung, but bees do make the most heavenly, natural sweetener on the planet. When you pause to consider, it is fascinating how the flavor of honey changes from season to season and place to place. (We talk about terroir with wine, but it’s true for honey, too). Yet bees do far more than produce the nectar of the gods. They play a critical role in the big picture of agriculture. More than two-thirds of the world’s crop species rely on pollinators.
So, the short and not so sweet is: no bees, no food."
Does talk of bees make you hungry for honey? Check out these seven Georgia honeys:
Little Bee Project collects honey from 75 hives located in Atlanta and surrounding communities. Each jar is marked with a number that refers to the apiary where the nectar was gathered. Available at Joseph and Co., 925 Garrett St., Atlanta. 404-228-6033, athomewithjoseph.com. Photo by Rachel Taylor
Raw honey by the Savannah Bee Company is available at Church Street Market, 131 Church Street on Marietta Square in downtown Marietta. 770-499-9393, and online at savannahbee.com. (Parker C. Smith/Special)
A 2017 Flavor of Georgia finalist, H.L. Franklin's Healthy Honey-Wildflower is a dark amber honey with floral overtones. Available online at www.franklinfoodsllc.com.Photo from franklinfoodsllc.com/
Tribble Farms sells its Lavender Infused Honey at the Alpharetta Farmers Market, the Sweet Apple Farmers, Artisans Market in Roswell and online at tribblefarms.com. Photo by Dianna Tribble.
Wally Bee's Raw Honey is made in Newnan, Georgia. Available online at wallybeeshoney.com. Photo by Ligaya Figueras.
MtnHoney's Spring Wildflower, which is produced from apiaries in Clarkesville, Georgia won a 2017 Good Food award in the honey category. Available online at mtnhoney.com. Photo from mtnhoney.com
Bee Wild's Sourwood Raw Honey was selected as a 2017 Good Food Awards winner in the honey category. Available at beewild.buzz. Photo from www.beewild.buzz/
