Beekeeping� in �Provence
From Patrick Molle
Professional beekeeper in
Pertuis (Vaucluse) France
How did I end up here today?
France is one of the biggest countries in Europe which produces a high quantity of goods, many of them exported.
Meat, milk, grain, and wine, champagne, Cognac, Grand Marnier, absinthe, Calvados, Pastis …and 1200 cheeses.
For honey we export very little, like the US, we consume more than we produce.
Location
Where ?
Provence is in the southeast, growing vines, olive oil, fruits, and lavender honey!
Hilly in the south, mountainous in the north
200 miles north to south and east/west
Environment :
The Dry South
Temperate: greener with climate changes some drought
Maquis
Garrigue
Lavender
PreAlps
Environment :
The Massif Central
Temperate: very sunny, some good rain. With climate changes it’s more erratic. Same latitude as Montreal
More foraging areas:
Ardèche Fir Forest
Ardèche
Chambon sur Lignon
Massif Central
My Bees
- Caucasienne
- Mass selection
- Buckfast
My Business
Annual Cycle of Beekeeping
Winter
Potential crops: arbutus, rosemary, white heather
Varroa treatment: Oxalic acid in February
Feeding candi
Rosemary
White heather
Annual Cycle of Beekeeping
Spring
Potential crops: acacia, chestnut
First transhumance to acacia and then chestnut
Acacia
Chestnut
Annual Cycle of Beekeeping
Spring
Breeding :
Annual Cycle of Beekeeping: Summer
Potential crops : lavender, fir
Varroa treatment in July or August Oxalic acid
Fir
Lavender
Annual Cycle of Beekeeping: Autumn
Nectar and pollen available: Ivy, rosemary, arbutus
Check brood and food supply
Annual Cycle of Beekeeping: Autumn Sales
Sales in bulk through Coopérative Provence Miel
-60 Beekeepers, 300t
-Lavender 50%, Provence flowers 10% …
-PGI and red label “PROVENCE”
-First one to develop organic 60%
-Single source expensive honeys
-Solidarity, self managed
Zillions of beekeepers Meetings
13640 La Roque d’Anthéron (france)
Challenges Faced by French Beekeepers
Flooded by fake Honeys from Asia (Belgium, Spain, England, Ukraine, Poland)
Imports 50% of what we consume
Variation of production with climate changes
Organic and high valued Honeys sales plummet since Ukraine invasion Supermarket buying process changes due also to the threat of discount supermarket
Challenges faced by French beekeepers
In Nature
Climate changes
Yellow legs Hornet
Varroa
A wide variety of honey and taste from such a small area.
Rosemary
Blooming all winter but mainly March April,
Color very clear, fast crystallization pure white with light iridescent grey,
Taste slightly balsamic scent, some very light vegetal flavors but persistent
White heather “Mediterranean heath” (Erica)
Blooming March to early May,
Color amber fast crystallization,
Taste strong woody flavors licorice caramel taste
A wide variety of honey and taste from such a small area.
Acacia
Blooming end of May/June,
Color light color,
Taste soft flavor, discreet flowery taste, liquid high fructose
Chestnut
Blooming May,
Color amber, granulous crystallization,
Taste strong lightly bitter woody flavors.
A wide variety of honey and taste from such a small area.
Lavender
Blooming mid June to end of July,
Color light to pale yellow, white if crystallized,
Taste strong flowery scent, acetic, fruity and colored flavors. Persistent in mouth.
Fir
Honey flow potentially from June to September
Color black in massif central some green iridescence in the north east
Taste strong aroma, woody and sappy scents, malted taste, balsamique but soft overall.
Montagne and Provence flowers postcards for your palate.
More than 30 different monofloral honeys are produced in France
À BIENTÔT