Dominica makes a big impact in the OECS Honey Show

Dominica made a big impact on the OECS Honey show held in St Lucia on 10th December.

Nathaniel Lovell owner of Bee Api Honey Company and producer of La Vie Miel Honey, took first place for Best Light Amber Honey, Best Dark Amber Honey and won the overall Best in Show for the OECS.

Terri Henry, owner of Bee Natural won first place in the categories for Beeswax Candle, Photography and Best Commercial Product with the Bee Natural Deodorant.

The pair also earned 2nd place as a joint entry in the Beeswax block category. The Hewanorra Honey Show organised by the Iyanola Apiculture Collective has been held in St Lucia for the past three years. This year, in partnership with the European Union-funded BioSPACE Project currently being implemented by the OECS Commission, the show opened to receive entries from islands within the OECS. Participating countries were Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, BVI, Dominica, Grenada, Monserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A week of activities focused on bringing together beekeepers from around the region to move the apiculture industry forward, increase regional collaboration, and improve standards through the competitive process of the final show.

The honey show was judged by UK National Honey Show judges Sue Carter and Bill Fisher. Both judges commended Lovell and Henry on the quality of their entries and provided valuable feedback for continued improvement and growth.

Nathaniel Lovell is currently the President of the National Beekeepers Cooperative Society and Terri Henry is the Secretary of the organization. Both are passionate about elevating the status and quality of beekeeping in Dominica. They give credit to the quality of their honey and beeswax products, to the abundant floral biodiversity of Dominica, and that our bees remain tolerant against Varroa Destructor Mites and thus we have treatment-free and wild hives throughout the island.