Honeybees and Ice Cream

[JohnK and Sheri]

After the tour of the new/old bee lab at UC Davis, we attended a very nice dinner at the university. One of the speakers was from Haagen Dazs ice cream. She announced a new flavor ice cream ( Vanilla Honey Bee) to be released concurrently with a campaign to raise the awareness of the plight of the honey bee. She pointed out that we wouldn't even have ice cream without honey bees as the dairy cow forage needs honeybee pollination. Better than pointing this outtoaroomof beekeepers, they plan on pointing this out to the consuming public in a variety of ways. As their spokesperson stated, they plan on "creating a buzz!"
They will also be making significant contributions to honey bee health research projects. The details will be announced in the coming month or two but in the meantime get ready for another bump in honey bee interest from your customers.:)
Oh, and btw, for desert at the UC Davis dinner we were served bowls of the new Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream. YUMMMM!!!
Thanks and hats off to Haagen-Dazs!!!
Sheri

[Joel]

I love to read the 50 and 100 yrs ago article in the Beek Journal about what was going on our industry then. Carl Sagan would say it is my "natural huuman Cuury osity" about where we came from and where we are going.

I think 100 years from now Beeks will see this as a great time in beekeeping with all the health awareness and appreciation for bees and what they provide. Perhaps it will be looked at as a Honeybee Rennisance (anyone is welcome to correct that spelling!)

We should consider ourselves fortunate to keep bees now despite the problems.

[phil c]

honey on REALLY good vanilla ice cream is one of my favorite treats!
But its gotta be the good stuff with the lilittle flecks of vanilla beans in it.

Hats off to Haggen Daz!

[jean-marc]

Well Joel if you really must know I'll take the bait, and here it is Renaissance.

Jean-Marc

[Joel]

No bait, I knew I couldn't spell it, I could not think of another word to replace it. I'm just glad it was you that corrected me! At least then I know it is done in good spirit. mimizing the humality of it all! ...Now where's that Theosaurs, theosauros, I mean thesaurus?

[jean-marc]

Well Joel it'll be interesting to see if you are right. Ever since I started, people talk about honey , health, conciousness of diet etc.. but it never really seems like it materialises into sales at good prices to the beekeeper. Mind you I do not spend a great deal of effort at marketing honey. I like beekeeping more than I like selling honey. So that's what I do.

However I think that the Honey Symposium at the Sacremento meeting will indeed be a turning point for the industry. I think Ron Phipps (sp?) and the others organizing the Honey and Health symposium are doing the industry a great and long needed service.

I feel confident and highly optimistic that this is the time when the beekeeping industry will finally turn itself around. Higher prices are around the corner and I think they stay up there for a long while.

Jean-Marc

[Ross]

I wonder if it actually HAS honey in it?

[randydrivesabus]

so Haagen dazs sees a good marketing opportunity. Good business sense to take advantage of recent bee publicity.

[PCM]

Anyone want to bet;
It will be Chinese Honey ? :eek:

Haagen Daze was owned by Pillsbury, { which was owned by Diageo PLC, of London England ] now Pillsbury and its divisions were recently bought by General Mills.

Your talking BIG business they will squeeze a nickel till you know what happens ! ;)

PCM

[sqkcrk]

They used to have this product for sale and I was dissapointed when it no longer was so. One problem is having to keep it frozen at a lower temperature. I hope to see it in my market soon.

[JohnK and Sheri]

I am looking at the package label, (I can post a pic later if anyone is interested), the ingredients in order are:
Cream, skim milk, HONEY, egg yolks, sugar, natural vanilla.
Sheri

[Oldbee]

If they were invited as speakers to the BIG meeting of beekeepers from across the land, [USA] I would hope all the,.. "executives" involved in the preparation of this meeting would have done their "homework" regarding whether it "really" [actually--Ross] has honey in it or if USA honey is used at all. Maybe I am "ignorant" about these "matters";,.......sure hope not!!

[MadBowbee]

Nancy from Dutch Gold said they provided the honey for Hagen-Daas. Let's hope it was some of mine and not foreign honey.

[Troutsqueezer]

However I think that the Honey Symposium at the Sacremento...
Jean-Marc

OK Jean-Marc, I'll follow suit: SacrAmento. :)

But if you are from around here, it's often referred to as "Sacra-Tomato" or "Sack-A-Tomato" since the tomato is a common crop of the Central Valley.

[Hobie]

I wonder if it actually HAS honey in it?

I hope it DOESN'T have honeybees in it! :eek:

[FANNBEE]

After reading the ingredients, I have to go buy some.