Some facts about the honey industry:

There are about 13,000 beekeepers in Canada. Depending on the province, about 10% to 20% of beekeepers are commercial producers, accounting for 80% to 90% of honey production. The balance are smaller producers and hobbyists (I am one!). Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba produce about 80% of Canada’s honey production.

– A heathy and productive hive has about 50,000 bees

– A bee hive can produce anywhere from 10 pounds to 200 pounds of honey

– It takes over 500 bees to produce one pound of honey

– 2 million flowers must be visited to make one pound of honey

– Honey bees travel up to 5 or 6km away to collect nectar

– Honey bees maintain temperatures of 34C inside a hive in the winter to keep themselves alive

Raw honey benefits:

– Good source of antioxidants
– Source of many vitamins and nutrition
– Phytonutrient source – antifungal and immune boosting, anti-cancer benefits
– Aids digestion
– Brain benefits