To the Editor:

Being the only commercial beekeeper in Godfrey/Morgan County has been a great pleasure over the past two years.  I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the best people including our loyal honey customers, retailers, neighbors, county/city officials, and area farmers.  It is with regret that I want to inform your readers that our Bee Factory and Kiddie Bee operations are moving to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

The reasons for this move are three-fold.  First we lost a number of bee colonies in the late June and early July to the heat wave–some of our hives in full sun actualy melted down.  This setback coupled with the Georgia Department of Agriculture's refusal to permit our honey cough syrup product line has forced us to find a new operating home. Finally my wife has the only job with benefits, and she and the rest of my family are located in the Hilton Head and Savannah areas.

For those of you still seeking local honey, I would like to suggest that you contact Margaret and Virgil Brady in Godfrey.  I have helped them with their bee hives, and they use the same organic and chemical-free practices that we do in our beekeeping.  Their products are available at www.madison.locallygrown.net.

Thank you once again for being such wonderful neighbors and a supportive community for local agriculture.

David Arnal
Godfrey
Via e-mail

Printed in the October 4, 2012 edition.