The Newfoundland Bee Company was started in 1998, in Pasadena, Newfoundland by Andrea Skinner and Paige Marchant. They took over operation of Tuckamore Apiary, which had been started in 1973 by Andrea’s father, Wally Skinner.  He started with one colony, and despite skeptical suppliers who did not believe Newfoundland’s climate and flora could support honeybees, he gradually expanded to 15 colonies by 1998.  Since then, The Newfoundland Bee Company has grown to 75 colonies and is still expanding.  The main focus of the apiary has always been the production of honey.  However, over the past several years the increase in colony numbers has led to a surplus of beeswax.  This has fuelled the introduction of some new products, which utilize the surplus wax.  The line of products currently consists of: hand/body creams; lip balm; sore muscle rub; soap; leather waterproofer; food-safe wood polish; massage bar; sticky grip (for golfers and ball players) and of course, honey.  Newfoundland wildflower honey is the main type of honey produced by The Newfoundland Bee Company.  However, during productive summers, a specialty honey (honey from one nectar source) is collected from large fireweed acreages in western Newfoundland.

Newfoundland honey is considered to be some of the ‘cleanest’ honey produced in the World!  Newfoundland and Hawaii are the only two places where honeybees are not plagued by parasitic mites or small hive beetles.  To keep honeybee colonies alive in the presence of these pests, extensive chemical treatment is required.  These treatments lead to chemical residues in the honey and the beeswax.  The fact that Newfoundland is pest-free and has a low incidence of other honeybee diseases means we do not use any chemicals in the colonies.  Another factor of concern for some consumers is the planting of genetically modified crops and the subsequent foraging by bees on these plants. Provincially, farmers do not use any genetically modified crops so this is not an issue with Newfoundland honey.  The nectars collected in the relatively pristine environment of Newfoundland produces a honey that can in many instances qualify as organic.

Most of our honey is unpasteurized to retain all the beneficial qualities of honey.  Unpasteurized honey will crystallize over time.  This is a natural process and can be reversed by placing your honey container in a warm water bath, or microwaving.  Honey is best stored in your cupboard or frozen to prevent crystallization.  As long as your honey is tightly sealed it should last forever!  (Left open it absorbs moisture and ferments)

We hope you enjoy your Newfoundland Bee Company Product! 

From our comb to your home!