CUBAN BEEKEEPING

 
 
 

 

 

We will learn about Cuba's rich beekeeping culture and what makes it unique. Cuban agriculture has been predominantly organic and thus it has a healthy bee population and its exported honey is organic. The use of pesticides has been very controlled in cuba which has prevented the die-offs seen else where. Though Cuba does have Varoa it is just about 2-3 percent of the hive. We will learn what they do to keep it down as well as the many innovative methods and pieces of equipment they have made with limited access to supplies and money.

With Honey being Cuba's fourth largest export ahead of sugar and coffee, beekeeping is an established enterprise in the country. Cuban honey has its own distinct taste and is a very desirable commodity and a strong export. Cuba has over 1,000 independent small apiaries and in 2014 Cuba produced over 7,200 tons of organic honey.

We will visit five different beekeepers on this tour. All are a bit different in what they do and where they are located. One specializes in raising queens for sale, another is an award winning fourth generation father and son beekeepers on the coast, another just outside Havana and another is a poor afro-Cuban family who belong to a collective in the hills above Trinidad. Each will warmly welcome us and share their beekeeping practices with us. Three of the families we will join for a meal, one with music and we will get samples of Cuban honey to take home with us. Cuban honey is delicious!

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