Deglazed

First I heard the honey bees were being attacked by viruses and mites. Then I heard the honey bees were slowly dying off from pesticide use on fields near the hives. Now, it’s the cell phones. I am not an expert, but the cell phone theory reeks of doomsday alarm-ism. After speaking with a bee keeper from Marshall Farms, I learned that the no one knows what is causing the honey bee population to diminish at this point. But Marshall Farms has seen a slow but steady decrease in bee population over they last few years.

An independent beekeeper I spoke with cautiously suggested a different theory. He recalled that two months ago, a large bee producer he knew boasted about the health of his 3000 hives during a meeting with other bee keepers. One month later, at the next meeting, the same producer claimed that he had lost 90% of his hives. My source found that claim to be surprising but also noted this was the first meeting where there were press listening in.

Could this missing bee hysteria be hyped up just a bit by producers? If the cell phone theory is possible, then so is the theory that someone wants to manipulate the marketplace to drive prices you-know-where.

More info as I get it.

The beloved Prather Ranch meat truck, packed and ready for the Grand Lake Farmers Market, was broken into last night on Telegraph Ave in Oakland. 40 pounds of buffalo jerky was taken, as well as farmers market signage and important documents worthless to the thief. Now, what will that guy (it was a guy) do with all that jerky?

Here are some suggestions on how the thief can unload 40 pounds of buffalo jerky.

1. Give it back to the hard working, ethical, family ranchers, but send a little my way before you do. After all, this is my idea.

2. Set up a lemonade stand nowhere near Telegraph Avenue, and sell the buffalo jerky on the sly. Tell people it pairs nicely with lemonade. Give all proceeds to Alameda County Food Bank to ensure you don’t go directly to hell.

3. Next week, set up a stand at the Grand Lake Farmers Market right next to the big, strong, cattle and buffalo slaughtering ranchers who made the jerky and try to sell it at half price. Let me know how that works out for you.