Bee-Mail: The National Honey Board's Electronic Newsletter

BeeMail provides information on NHB programs and honey industry and related industry news. Visit NHB at www.honey.com and www.honeylocator.com.

It’s New! “Nature’s Sweetener – Recipes with Honey”

Emphasizing the natural aspect of honey, NHB’s new recipe leaflet puts an innovative twist on traditional recipes such as meatloaf and apple crisp. “Nature’s Sweetener – Recipes with Honey” is the latest edition in a series of recipe leaflets produced by NHB. The tasty recipes in the new leaflet include “Apple Honey Crisp” and “Meatloaf with Pine Nuts.” The featured appetizer recipe is “Sweet & Spicy Avocados,” which uses a unique mix of avocados in a honey, catsup and vinegar sauce.

Assessment paying members can receive up to 500 copies of NHB’s recipe leaflet “freebie” each year.  

It’s New, It’s Fun, It’s for Kids - “A Sweet Story – The Making of Honey”

Most kids like honey and also find bees to be fascinating creatures. NHB appeals to these interests in its new kid’s brochure “A Sweet Story – The Making of Honey.” The brochure explains honey production in a brief, colorful, easy-to-understand format. It also includes fun facts, honey snack ideas and some puzzles.

Educators can obtain a limited number of free copies of this brochure for use in Ag in the Classroom.

NHB a Sponsor at Healthy Baking Seminar

NHB was a sponsor at the third annual Healthy Baking Seminar in Anaheim, Calif., March 8. The sponsorship was designed to increase awareness of honey as a natural baking ingredient. The seminar was organized by Modern Baking magazine and featured a series of panel discussions and speakers on current trends and issues in the healthful baked products market. Many of the baking industry attendees picked up NHB literature at NHB’s table, including the honey foodservice CD, honey substitution chart, honey reference guide and honey locator brochures. 

NHB will obtain a mailing list of seminar attendees to conduct follow-up promotional mailings throughout 2007.

NHB Provides Additional $100,000 in Funds for Research on Colony Collapse Disorder

NHB has approved  $100,000 in additional funding for research on the phenomena recently termed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), bringing NHB’s total funding to date for CCD research to $158,000. The funding has been awarded to a CCD Working Group composed of university faculty researchers, state regulatory officials, cooperative extension educators and industry representatives.

In January, NHB approved an emergency funding request for $13,000 for the group.
In addition, NHB approved $45,000 for a CCD research project as part of its 2007 production research funding.

In late 2006, some beekeepers began reporting large losses in honey bee colonies. Although bee experts have identified several possible causes, a prevailing theory has yet to emerge.

The CCD group and Bee Alert Technology are asking beekeepers’ assistance in reporting instances of honey bee CCD. Beekeepers can assist with this effort by participating in the National Bee Loss Survey at www.beesurvey.com.

For more information about CCD and the CCD Work Group, visit http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/index.html.

News Alert! Congressional Hearing on Colony Collapse Disorder Set for March 29

A public hearing on Colony Collapse Disorder will be held this Thursday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time in Washington, D.C., before the House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. Beekeepers and researchers will testify.

Live Audio will be available at the start of the hearing, and can be accessed at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html

New at Honey.Com! Consumer Honey Buzz Section

NHB recently added a new feature to its www.honey.com web site. Each month the “Consumer Honey Buzz” section will provide informative articles, quick and creative honey tips and timely recipes.

Hispanic Focus Groups Provide Valuable Honey Marketing Information

As part of an effort to expand honey sales in the U.S. Hispanic market, NHB recently conducted seven focus groups to:

• Better understand current consumption patterns and use of honey among U.S. Latino consumers, specifically mothers with children.
• Investigate ways in which honey consumption can be promoted in the Hispanic market.
• Probe honey messaging.
• Test honey recipes.

The focus groups were conducted in three major Hispanic cities - Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami - with a total of 65 participants. Some key findings include:

• The vast majority of moms across markets use honey as a sweetener in tea or a cold/sore throat remedy.
• Most reported paying between $3-5.00 for a small jar of honey.
• Virtually none of the participants went out of their way to get honey from other countries.

NHB Requests Research Proposals for Weight Regulation Study

NHB is soliciting proposals from research institutions to study the effect of honey consumption on body weight regulation. As part of this project, researchers would be expected to produce the following: (1) a presentation of the findings at an appropriate scientific meeting and, if appropriate (2) the publication of the findings in a scientific, technical or trade journal. Application deadline is April 30, 2007. http://www.honey.com/downloads/NHB-rfp-Mar2007.pdf

BeeMovie: Your Input Is Needed for this Unique Marketing Opportunity!

The honey industry will have an exciting and unprecedented marketing opportunity this fall when the animated “Bee Movie” is scheduled to play in movie theaters throughout the United States. “Bee Movie” is a production of DreamWorks, which has produced such popular animated movies as “Shrek” and other films. The movie was written by comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who also provides the voice of the movie’s main character, Barry Bee. (For more information about the movie, visit www.beemovie.com or http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389790/. The movie is expected to generate positive publicity about beekeeping and highlight the important role bee pollination plays in plant production.

We Need Your Ideas!

NHB is planning a variety of honey promotions to tie into the movie, including producing promotional materials for use by small to medium sized honey producers at farmer’s markets, in-store promotions, etc. These materials will likely feature graphics from the movie, along with a 100 percent pure honey message.

Some materials being considered for production include:

• Hang tags (similar to the ones currently available from NHB)
• Jar/Containers Neckers
• Stickers for Jars/Containers
• Recipe/honey tip sheets
• Table Signs
• Brochures

We need your feedback! Let NHB know which of the above materials you find useful or send us your own ideas! Please indicate possible quantities you might need.

Send your input to moviestuff@nhb.org or call NHB at 1-800-553-7162.

2006 Honey Production Figures

Honey production decreased 11 percent from 2005 to 2006, while honey prices increased 14 percent, according to the annual honey report recently issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Board.
http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/hony0207.pdf

National Honey Report for February

The Agricultural Marketing Service has issued the February 2007 National Honey Market Report.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/mncs/honey.pdf.

Celebrate World Apitherapy Day on March 30

The second annual World Apitherapy Day is March 30, 2007. The event is designed to enhance international understanding of the therapeutic use and health benefits of bee products.
http://www.worldapitherapyday.org/

20 Years of Sweet Success: Looking Back

In 2007, NHB is celebrating its 20th anniversary. NHB will periodically highlight in BeeMail various milestones accomplished throughout the last 20 years.

1989: NHB initiates a new “What’s Buzzin’”educational packet, including a videotape, teacher’s guide and worksheets. The videotape, created for grades 4-6, features child reporters investigating pollination, honeybees and honey for their newscast, “What’s Buzzin’.” The tape, worksheets and teacher’s guide were available for $15.

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Phone: 303-776-2337
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