Vitebsk beekeepers have started collecting May honey

May 19, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Vitebsk beekeepers have started collecting May honey, Mikhail Sokolov, head of the Vitebsk Regional Beekeeping and Fish Farming Service, told a BELTA correspondent. In the region, along with private apiarists and beekeeper farmers, 82 public apiaries operate in agricultural organizations. Despite the fact that the main task of the latter is breeding bees for pollination of agricultural crops - rapeseed, clover, buckwheat, honey collection is also carried out here. And if in 2008, 8.2 kg of honey were collected from one hive of a public apiary, then this year beekeepers hope to increase the collection to 15 kg. 70% of the hives of public apiaries have already been supplemented with so-called honey supers - special devices designed solely for honey collection. After May, bees will bring linden, clover, and buckwheat honey here, explained Mikhail Sokolov. Beekeepers also plan to increase the number of bee colonies from 4026 to 4150. The Honey Spas will become a kind of exhibition of honey achievements of the Vitebsk region. Traditionally, on the eve of August 14, the best beekeepers from all farms in the region will gather at the "Zadvine" cultural center in Vitebsk and will exhibit their honey for tasting and sale. Honey is a food product that is nectar partially digested in the honeybee's crop. Honey contains 13-20% water, 75-80% carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose), vitamins B1, B2, B6, E, K, C, provitamin A-carotene, and folic acid. -0-