Beekeepers to swarm to Fremont on Saturday for annual Bee Pick-Up Day

FREMONT, Mich. -- Hundreds of beekeepers from around the Great Lakes will head to Fremont on Saturday for the annual Bee Pick-Up Day.

It will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Great Lakes Bee Company on South Warner Avenue. Beekeepers will be able to purchase queen bees and five- and nine-frame nucs. Those are miniature honey bee colonies, usually kept in a box and designed as a starter hive.

Here is more from a Seyferth P.R. news release:

On Saturday, May 9, hundreds of beekeepers from the Great Lakes region will pick up bees from Fremont, Michigan’s, Great Lakes Bee Co. (GLBC), after they were busy pollinating almond crops in California and rebuilding of hives in Georgia during the winter months. The annual Bee Pick-Up Day for five and nine frame nucs and queen bees will take place on May 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Great Lakes Bee Company, 5973 S. Warner Ave., Fremont, MI 49412.

Bees provide a natural way for pollination to occur during the spring and early summer months. During the event, beekeeping supplies and equipment will be available for sale. The annual bee pick-up event is a sign flowers and crops will soon be ready for pollination.

 When the bees return to Fremont, Michigan, they forage on basswood, alfalfa, star thistle, and West Michigan flowers to create 150,000 pounds Michigan Honey. In addition to producing honey under the Hasselman, Michigan Wild, and SayLa Bee Infused Honey brands, the bees are also hired to help pollinate various crops including: almonds (January); apricots, sweet cherries, peaches and plums (April); tart cherries, pears, blueberries and apples (May).

GLBC sells its honey wholesale to many retail outlets throughout Michigan including Meijer and Whole Foods, and at thegreatlakesbeecompany.com The company also offers other products made from their beeswax, including items such as candles and raw wax.