COVID-19 Update
Apr 2020 13
The coronavirus pandemic has created challenges for beekeepers and their communities.
We are making changes to our business to provide additional support for local honey customers and beekeepers during this time.
Effective immediately, the following changes will be implemented:
Queens
Due to overseas shipping delays, foreign queens may be in short supply in Alberta this year.
As Canada’s largest contributor to honey production, it is crucial that Alberta has access to queens. We are currently working towards:
- Increasing production of our locally mated queens. They will be available starting in June. Customers on our waiting list will be notified first about additional availability. We will then update our website stock numbers and send out an email to those who have subscribed to our mailing list.
- Producing queen cells. If we are unable to keep up with demand for mated queens we will produce queen cells (time permitting). This will allow us to provide more queens to Alberta in a shorter period of time. However, there are risks associated with purchasing queen cells and it is important that beekeepers are aware of how to care for and install cells. Information will be sent out to customers via our mailing list and social media posts.
We will not, under any circumstances, increase the price of our queens in 2020. However, shipping prices may be updated to reflect price changes at local courier carriers.
Please note that we typically ship our queens via Canada post but we will be monitoring COVID-related service changes at major postal companies and will change our service provider accordingly. Customers will be contacted regarding any changes.
Free Educational Sessions
Beekeeping in 2020 will require creativity and patience.
Many new beekeepers will struggle to adequately care for their hives, especially if they had previously relied on club meetings for education.
To bridge the knowledge gap, we will be hosting educational Zoom meetings throughout the season. These sessions are free but spots are limited. Both group and private meetings are available.
Please sign up for our mailing list or keep an eye on our education page to find out what sessions are available.
Alberta Beekeepers Online Chat Group
We have created an online chat group to connect local beekeepers during this time. Members can post classifieds ads, news, tips, and more. It’s free to sign up and anyone is welcome to join. To sign up please email us with a request to join and indicate which email address you would like to use to sign up. Alternatively, click here to access the sign-up page.
Merchandise
Merchandise availability will not change. Please be patient as shipping delays are expected.
Items that are normally printed in North America may be printed elsewhere to expedite fulfilment, so customs charges may now apply to items shipped to the USA and Canada.
Honey
We are periodically offering free contactless delivery within Edmonton.
Honey from our 2019 harvest will not increase in price, and there will be no minimum order requirements to qualify for the free delivery option.
Deliveries will be via porch/doorstep drop-off and customers will receive a text message or email 10 minutes prior to the delivery.
Please sign up for our mailing list to get updates on our delivery service.
We thank you for continued support and patience during these trying times.
It has been amazing to watch the community pull together to help each other. If you have suggestions for additional services or support we can offer please feel free to contact us.