Yes I worked for the Genesee Brewing Co for 10 years and we donated a % of our JW Dundees Honey Brown sales to Colony Collapse Disorder to 'help save the bees', pretty disturbing trend that they seemed to be at a lo disorder" is a real problem they are beginning to understand ss to explain, hopefully their populations are back on the mend?
Catastrophes among the bee community seem to befall it's members each year. The past three have years have seem major accidents resulting in the loss of hundreds of hives and millions of bees. 4 years ago millions froze in a semi crossing Wyoming.
20 years ago there were 5 million active hives in the U.S. today there are half that.
Although "colony collapse disorder is a real problem they are beginning to understand it's cause and many beekeepers are with good degrees of success able to circumvent it.
When I started keeping bees, it was easy Buy a 3 pound package from Montgomery Wards put it in a hive add supers and collect honey. Truly it was that simple!
In the early to mid 80s America was introduced to the tracheal mite, the varroa mite, and small hive beetles. Speculation about how it happened varies. However a general consensus it China shipped infected bee packages to the U.S. in an attempt to destabilize the profit in honey production in an attempt to corner the market.
Bee keeping is a struggle today and the profit margin for commercial beekeepers shrinks every year. Pesticides, pollution, and other factors take greater toll on bee populations every year.
How can the general population help our bees? The answer is simple. Be cautious of the pesticides you use, timing there use during off bloom periods.
And "BUY LOCAL HONEY" you need not find a local beekeeper, although that would be best for your health, but at least read the label, if it says anything other than a product of USA. DON'T BUY IT!!!.
I apologize to our sister country CANADA. But this is one issue I feel strongly about. But know that if I had to buy non U.S. honey. Canadian Honey would be the only acceptable alternative!