Pollen Collection

[dpearce4]

Does anyone collect pollen to then either feed back to their bees or to sell. There is a local company to me that imports a tonne per year from china but would love UK if it were possible.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I collect some, but only for my own use, mainly during queen rearing.

Is the imported pollen from China irradiated?

 

[dpearce4]

nope

"organic"

its sold in health food shops as sprinkles for peoples food.

similar to this product

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=4902&cpid=5874&cid=3

 

[Hivemaker.]

Best not to risk using that for your bees, Doug.

 

[dpearce4]

Best not to risk using that for your bees, Doug.

wasn't looking at it for my bees I was more interested in it as a sales avenue.

Local pollen like local honey premium product, premium price.

 

[dpearce4]

Do you have problems with it going mouldy, how do you dry it out Pete?

 

[Hivemaker.]

It is certainly expensive, and the bees can collect a lot of it, i would like to find a place to get it irradiated at a sensible price.

What were you thinking of sales to health food shops.

Edit, i just freeze it, Doug.

 

[dpearce4]

yep I have one that takes lots of my honey and they would like local pollen as they sell lots.

Does it need to be irradiated to sell as a food stuff?

 

[Hivemaker.]

No, not for human consumption, only best if being used for feeding bees.

 

[dpearce4]

so as long as I can dry it well and package it well I should be able to sell it.

 

[Hivemaker.]

You can buy pollen driers in various sizes, but the same can be achieved with a decent fan assisted incubator and moisture meter.

Royal jelly is another valuable product, Roger (Norton) sells this as well.

 

[dpearce4]

Royal jelly is another valuable product, Roger (Norton) sells this as well.

bit out of my range. don't even have a queen breeding system yet.

 

[Hivemaker.]

All in good time Doug, i am sure you will soon.

 

[fiftyjon]

Hi Pete,

Can you provide a link to pollen driers, please?
Do you dry the pollen before freezing?

Collecting pollen for queen raising interests me as per the Michael Palmer video, so would be interested.

Thanks

 

[VEG]

Hi

Here is one
http://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/honey-warming-cabinet-and-pollen-dryer/

another of a different type

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-dryer-for-bee-pollen-220V-Beekeeping-Equipment-5-kg-/321187910125

 

[Hivemaker.]

Hi Pete,
Can you provide a link to pollen driers, please?
Do you dry the pollen before freezing?

I don't dry it before freezing, but if i did dry it i would just use a fan assisted incubator, or even just a fan blowing through it in a small room with a dehumidifier.

There are some you tube clips of industrial sized belt driers, interesting, but i don't think of much use to us on the scale we need.

 

[beebreeder]

If you are planning to collect any serious volume a under hive unit is far better as the pollen stays dry in the event of a rain storm unlike the porch type.