After a break for a couple of weeks, Bee’s with Ben is back with episode 93 of the podcast. In the

interim, Ben attended the Australian Bee Congress in Sydney. This was just the fourth event of its

kind, despite the inaugural one being held way back in 1972, but bee enthusiasts will only have to

wait four years for the next congress, and Ben encourages anyone with an interest to take part.

There were some fascinating speakers along with innovative trade shows. A couple of things that

stood out for Ben were plastic ‘nuc’ boxes and research into a pheromone lure for African small hive

beetle. A revolutionary refrigerated method of moving hives, complete with misting systems, will be

the subject of a future podcast! One big talking point surrounded the price of honey on a wholesale

level, as there is plenty of surplus around at the moment; another was the glut of inferior imported

product which is damaging local markets. The congress also represented a great opportunity to

network and meet new people - or to simply put a face to a name. Alex Mazur is a young Ukrainian

who has already enjoyed an extraordinary career with bees, and we were thrilled when he agreed to

participate in this episode of the podcast. Upholding the family tradition, Alex is a fourth-generation beekeeper. After moving to Australia

about three years ago, he spent a year with Warren Taylor’s company, Australian Queen Bee

Exporters, the largest beekeeping business in Australia, with 15 employees managing close to 10,000

hives and producing an incredible 120,000 queens per season. For the last two years he has worked

with another veteran Australian beekeeper, Terry Brown of Browns Bees Australia Beekeeping

Supplies.

Alex says that sunflower honey is the most common variant produced in Ukraine (predictably, given

the widespread cultivation of sunflowers); it is bright yellow in colour and good for creaming as it

crystallises fast. Sunflower honey does not have a strong taste, and apparently is not popular in

Ukraine, with the locals preferring something ‘special’ like manuka or jarrah; Alex explains that often

people don’t understand that quality is more important than variety or brand.

Of course, Australian beekeepers do not have to deal with the ravages of the varroa mite, but one of

the major differences that Alex has experienced is the need to wear protective clothing, which he

usually never did at home, as our bees are somewhat more aggressive.

And his favourite part of the conference? Alex was particularly interested in the honey

‘fingerprinting’ project initiated in WA and thinks that laboratory analysis could potentially be of

great benefit in proving origin and quality and therefore could have a big influence on price.

As a professional beekeeper who is a relative newcomer to our shores, Alex has a unique perspective

on Australian bees and beekeeping, and this makes for an intriguing and informative podcast.