Bermuda to find out what beekeeping is like here.

The "Fact Finding Tour'' will be held from today to Monday, after which the group will travel to Norfolk, Virginia for a beekeepers convention.

While here the group will shown Bermudian hospitality by 30 members of the Bermuda Beekeepers Association.

President of the Bermuda Beekeepers association Randolph Furbert said the visiting beekeepers, who range from big operators to hobby beekeepers, will be given a tour of the areas where bees are kept (apiary areas) on the Island.

He also said a reception is planned for Sunday at the Horticultural Hall at the Botanical Gardens.

"Beekeepers like to meet beekeepers,'' Mr. Furbert explained. "We hope this trip may help led to holding the annual beekeepers meeting here.'' Mr. Furbert said the annual meeting attracting 500 to 600 beekeeping enthusiast mostly from the United States and Canada.

"When I go to beekeeping functions abroad people always ask me when they would be going to Bermuda,'' he said. "This trip will help to put Bermuda on the beekeeping map overseas.'' Mr. Furbert also explained that although beekeepers had been to the Island before, this was the first time the American Beekeepers association sent over a group.

"The beekeepers will be introduced to the history of beekeeping in Bermuda and to the methods that are used in beekeeping here,'' he said.

Mr. Furbert said that Bermuda beekeeping was unique because of the Island's size and varied vegetation.

" The vegetation here is more varied than, say, in Florida where they mainly only have citrus and pacific plants. The agriculture in Bermuda is different then in other parts of the world.'' he explained. " We get various colours of honey here in Bermuda as the type of honey is determined by the vegetation.'' Mr. Furbert added there were about 40 beekeepers in Bermuda most of which are hobbyist beekeepers.

LOOKING FOR HONEY -- Bermuda Beekeepers Association president Randolph Furbert and his bees.