Local Honey Farm Wins Awards at Beekeeping Conference
Rocky Mountain Honey Farm, located in Castledale, has received top honors at the Western Apicultural Society's Northern Lights Beekeeping Conference. The farm won first place for its dark-colored honey and a second first-place ribbon for its cut comb honey. These awards recognize excellence in beekeeping and honey production across a wide region, including Alaska, the Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the western and midwestern United States, and Hawaii.
The farm attributes its success to the diverse array of natural bee forage sources in the Columbia Valley, where commercial agriculture is limited. Bees have access to a wide variety of nectar sources, including alfalfa, clover, snowberry, dogbane, native raspberries, choke cherries, and fireweed. This rich mix of flora results in their honey being called "wildflower honey."
Additionally, the bees can forage at different elevations throughout the year, contributing to the exceptional quality of honey produced in the region.
Rocky Mountain Honey Farm's honey production primarily serves the local community, with 90% of their honey being sold between Golden and Invermere.
The article explains that achieving an award for cut comb honey is particularly challenging because it depends on factors such as nectar flow, hive conditions, and timing. Cut comb honey involves slicing honeycomb, and achieving consistent quality can be difficult.
The Carters, who own and operate Rocky Mountain Honey Farm, modestly attribute their success to their bees, emphasizing the bees' role in honey production. They purchased the farm from the German-born couple Karl and Jutta Krezdorn, who started the operation in 1997.
The Carters are now seeking new owners to continue the honey business as they explore new opportunities.
#HoneyFarm, #Beekeeping, #Awards, #LocalBusiness
