10-08-2010, 06:57 AM
The public is invited to take part in a honey competition Nov. 9 at Hilo’s Komohana Agriculture Research Station. The Big Island Beekeepers Association is sponsoring its first statewide Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge in celebration of the uniqueness and quality of Hawaiian honey.
The competition, which is open to all beekeepers in the state, will be judged in two categories: liquid and solid. Appearance, aroma, texture and taste are the criteria on which the honeys will be judged, using a 5-point scale for each of the criteria.
Contestants may submit multiple samples for judging, with separate entry forms and a $5 entry fee for each submission. Deadline for entries is Nov. 1. Awards will be made in each criteria based on most accumulated points. There will also be “Best in Show” and “Peoples’ Choice” awards.
The judging will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9 preceding BIBA’s quarterly meeting at 875 Komohana St. in Hilo. The public is invited to view educational exhibits, and for a $1 donation to BIBA by those 13 years and older, taste the honeys and vote in competition’s “Peoples’ Choice” award.
Entry forms and rules for the honey challenge may be obtained online at the BIBA website: http://bibahawaiibees.org or by contacting Frankie Stapleton at (808) 965-8945.
The honey must be collected and bottled by the contestant. Each sample must be in a ½ pint (8 oz.) mason jar; no heat may be used in the extracting or bottling process and no additives, seeding or flavoring may be used.
Honeybees serve Hawaii’s statewide agricultural industry by pollinating more than 100 food crops as well as some native plants. Locally, honey bees are threatened by such invasive pests as varroa mites, small hive beetles and ants. Colony collapse disorder is another potential threat that decimated a third of mainland bee hives in 2009.
Antonie Botes, president of Big Island Beekeepers Association, said Hawaii’s beekeepers need to build public awareness of the danger of losing Hawaii’s bee colonies, both feral and managed, to pests threatening bees. Hundreds of colonies in Hawaii have already died in the past few months. Bees are crucial to the pollination of Hawaii's macnut, citrus, avocado, coffee and other crops. “If our bees go down, our food and crop supplies go down!” Botes said.
Residents and visitors are invited to the Nov. 9 honey challenge to help perpetuate Hawaii’s important and healthful beekeeping industry.
The competition, which is open to all beekeepers in the state, will be judged in two categories: liquid and solid. Appearance, aroma, texture and taste are the criteria on which the honeys will be judged, using a 5-point scale for each of the criteria.
Contestants may submit multiple samples for judging, with separate entry forms and a $5 entry fee for each submission. Deadline for entries is Nov. 1. Awards will be made in each criteria based on most accumulated points. There will also be “Best in Show” and “Peoples’ Choice” awards.
The judging will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9 preceding BIBA’s quarterly meeting at 875 Komohana St. in Hilo. The public is invited to view educational exhibits, and for a $1 donation to BIBA by those 13 years and older, taste the honeys and vote in competition’s “Peoples’ Choice” award.
Entry forms and rules for the honey challenge may be obtained online at the BIBA website: http://bibahawaiibees.org or by contacting Frankie Stapleton at (808) 965-8945.
The honey must be collected and bottled by the contestant. Each sample must be in a ½ pint (8 oz.) mason jar; no heat may be used in the extracting or bottling process and no additives, seeding or flavoring may be used.
Honeybees serve Hawaii’s statewide agricultural industry by pollinating more than 100 food crops as well as some native plants. Locally, honey bees are threatened by such invasive pests as varroa mites, small hive beetles and ants. Colony collapse disorder is another potential threat that decimated a third of mainland bee hives in 2009.
Antonie Botes, president of Big Island Beekeepers Association, said Hawaii’s beekeepers need to build public awareness of the danger of losing Hawaii’s bee colonies, both feral and managed, to pests threatening bees. Hundreds of colonies in Hawaii have already died in the past few months. Bees are crucial to the pollination of Hawaii's macnut, citrus, avocado, coffee and other crops. “If our bees go down, our food and crop supplies go down!” Botes said.
Residents and visitors are invited to the Nov. 9 honey challenge to help perpetuate Hawaii’s important and healthful beekeeping industry.