Bees are an integral part of how apples are grown at Shelburne Orchards. We’ve appreciated having the Mraz family and their beehives here every springtime.
Charles Mraz established Champlain Valley Apiaries (CVA) in 1931 in Middlebury. This honey of a business has now been handed down to Charles’ son, Bill (who purchased CVA in 1980) and grandson, Charles, as they continue to delve into the sweetness. Charles Sr. passed away in 1999 at the age of 94 and the New York Times noted that he was “an inventive beekeeper…the country’s leading evangelist for the therapeutic use of bee stings.”
From Canada south to Orwell in Vermont, 1,000 Mraz hives are placed at 30 different locations…including here at the orchard—lucky us! It’s a win-win relationship as the bees pollinate our apple blossoms and the bees gather nectar for honey. In the autumn, we sell CVA honey right here at the Cider House Farm Market.
Most of the Mraz honey is the result of a blend of clover and alfalfa. Raw honey contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants in small amounts. Please take a moment to check out a wonderful video produced by Vermont Public Television and hosted by Sean Buchanan at www.champlainvalleyhoney.com. And thank the bees for all of their help in growing the apples we eat!