In 2003, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) began beekeeping. The SMSC currently has 50 hives, located in six apiaries from which we produce hundreds of gallons (thousands of pounds) of honey.  SMSC owns approximately 3,000 acres in Scott County, Minnesota.  We place our apiaries in permanent locations and all of our bees spend winter in Minnesota unlike many large honey producers that truck their bees to Texas and California during winter. The ideal apiary site has a perfect mix of sun and shade close to water with protection from winter winds.  Many inquire of Land Department staff on the health of our bees considering all the recent news. Unfortunately, honeybees continue to be attacked by a wide variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. Our first defense is using Minnesota hygenic honeybee queens (available thanks to research done at the University of Minnesota), which have a natural tendency to remove diseased larvae and bees.  This reduces overall disease levels within a hive.  We visit our hives weekly to bi-weekly as the season demands, allowing us to identify and deal with problem hives quickly.  Some of our equipment is designed to physically limit disease.  But the disease pressures on the honey bees are strong and we do use medications in minimum effective quantities during autumn after we have harvested surplus honey from the hive for human consumption. Bees provide us with honey and we owe them thoughtful protection from potentially deadly ailments.

SMSC Honey

Honey is a natural product that bees store in order to survive cold temperatures and plant dormancy during winter.  Working bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers up to a few miles from the hive.  The primary nectar source of SMSC honey is clover and alfalfa which one may deduce from the light yellow to amber color.  However, SMSC has an extensive prairie restoration program where bees also forage on beautiful, native flowers such as bee balm, purple prairie clover, and blazing star.  Honeybees have an uncanny ability to find nectar-producing flowers.  We have even seen honeybees foraging on the green roof that the SMSC installed on the water reclamation facility!
 
SMSC honey is a natural, raw, and unprocessed product.  We obtain honey from the comb by removing the cap with a specialized tool, and then spin the uncapped frames in an extractor.  An extractor operates similarly to a washing machine on the spin cycle where honey is driven out of the comb by centrifugal force.  Finally, we strain the honey using stainless steel strainers, removing large bits of wax and other debris, and pour the finished product into bottles.
 
Honey will granulate or crystallize after some period of time.  This is a natural process and does not indicate spoiling.  To liquefy granulated honey, place the container in a pan of hot (but not boiling) water until the crystals melt. Honey has a delicious, delicate flavor.  This flavor can be damaged by overheating.  Do not refrigerate honey.

Honey Uses

Honey is a natural sweetener, and can be used in place of sugar in cooking.  Honey is 1.5 times sweeter than sugar.  Reduce liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used.

SMSC honey can be purchased at these fine retailers:

Shakopee Dakota Convenience Stores
www.sdcstores.com
Store #1
15035 Mystic Lake Dr NW
Prior Lake, MN 55372
952-445-5520
 
Store #2
14160 Wilds Path NW
Prior Lake, MN 55372
952-233-2992

Mystic Lake Casino gift shop
www.mysticlake.com
2400 Mystic Lake Blvd
Prior Lake, MN 55372
952-335-9000

Linden Hills Coop
www.lindenhills.coop
2813 W 43rd St
Minneapolis, MN 55410
612-279-2479

Wedge Co-op
www.wedge.coop
2105 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55405
612-871-3993