Wherever Barry Tabor is this time of year, sounds of buzzing, sights of blueberries blossoming and the sweet scent of honey maturing are usually nearby.
“When I wake up in the morning and I think it’s work, then it’s time to retire, so I’m not at that point yet and hopefully won’t be for a long time,” the apiarist says. “I love bees. I love working with them and I’ve found them to be such an enjoyable distraction.”
Tabor, who owns and runs Bears’ Bees and Honey, says he’s been pretty lucky throughout the majority of the pandemic. While there have been many businesses that have been struck by the economic wrath over the past year and a half, Tabor says he’s noticed in-person farmers market sales have slightly dipped, but retail sales, specifically through Superior Seasons have increased and kept things afloat.
One magic tool, he says, to getting the word out about his product, has been social media. He posts several times a week as a marketing tactic and has stressed to customers that he offers home delivery, free of cost.
“Going online, it’s really been the thing to do,” he says. “Prior to the pandemic, I was very seldom posting.”
Established in 1996, Tabor’s local operation manages 40-50 honeybee colonies at the height of the summer season with his apiaries based on the North Shore of Lake Superior and at the top of Lake Nipigons- Ombabika Bay.
Tabor follows the basic, bare bones principles to honey making, meaning he does not use automated machinery. All of his operation’s Ontario honey is hand processed and unpasteurized. The honey is strained to remove the bulk of the large wax particles, which leaves behind the natural pollens instilled in the honey.
“I believe in supporting and enhancing the bees as native pollinators in their environment,” he says.
Tabor’s most well known product is the Blueberry Blossom Honey, which is made from bees that strictly pollinate an area of wild blueberries before they congregate back to the hive and produce honey. This product has a strong, fruiter taste compared to most. Tabor also sells his Buckwheat Honey, sought after for its high nutritional value and nutty taste, as well as a Wildflower Honey that’s light, sweet and mild.
Beyond honey, customers can look for a number of beeswax products like candles and beeswax wraps. And though he notes that the past two years could have been a lot worse with sales, Tabor has a feeling that when pandemic restrictions ease, it will open a floodgate of local shoppers who wish to flock to the market for their honey fix.
