MONTEGO BAY, St James — The St James Bee Farmers Association will make available to members, at no cost, recently received equipment that reduces the time and cost of honey production, ultimately making the product more affordable to buy.

“This piece of equipment is used to make foundation for the bees, and it is pretty expensive. If we can lower the cost of production, then the public will be in a better position to get cheaper honey,” said chairman of the St James Bee Farmers Association, Dennis McKay.

He was speaking Monday during the handing over of a wax foundation mill, valued at approximately $200,000. The donation was made to the association by the St James Municipal Corporation through the Mayor’s Charity Fund. It took place at the corporation’s offices in Montego Bay.

McKay explained that the equipment is used to press beeswax into foundation sheets that are placed in hive frames, providing bees with a structured base on which to build honeycomb. He noted that the absence of this equipment significantly increases the time and cost involved in honey production.

“The only way we can at least get to a point where the small amount of honey we might get [is profitable] is to reduce our costs,” he explained.

Honey now costs about $4,000 for a 750ml bottle.

McKay also pointed out that the equipment will play a critical role in assisting local beekeepers recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Many of them suffered severe losses during the October 28, 2025 Category 5 adverse weather event. McKay noted that beyond the loss of bees and damaged apiaries, the hurricane also resulted in the downing of trees that bees depend on for pollen — a key component in honey production — further compounding the challenges faced by the industry.

“Many persons lost bees, and many also lost trees that were supposed to be producing honey,” he said, describing the sector as “devastated” by the natural disaster.

McKay said the association, which has more than 90 registered members, intends to make the wax foundation mill available to all members at no cost, as part of its mandate to support recovery and sustainability within the sector. He added that lowering production costs would not only benefit consumers, but also create opportunities for employment and encourage more people to enter bee farming.

“The cheaper we can produce honey, the lower the cost to the public, and it creates an opportunity to employ more people getting into the bee farming business,” he said, noting that bee farming is a hands-on industry that continues to offer viable livelihoods despite advances in technology.

In his remarks during the handing over ceremony, Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon described the St James Bee Farmers Association as resilient and proactive, pointing to its annual healthy lifestyle seminar and community outreach initiatives.

He said the Mayor’s Charity Fund, supported by corporate Montego Bay, had pivoted its focus in response to Hurricane Melissa to assist sectors such as bee farming that are vital but often overlooked.

“I’m happy that we’re able to help you to at least start the bounce-back process, and hopefully that you will have things in place so that you can keep your annual seminar and get more young people involved,” Vernon said.

“This is one of those industries that is seemingly hidden, but very important. And while all the contribution is going here and there, you don’t really hear much talk about bee farming and honey production unless we can’t find honey, and then we start the conversation. So this is being proactive and pre-empting the fallout in St James in particular, so this is our contribution,” he added.

McKay expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the donation represents an important step in the association’s recovery and its ongoing efforts to support members, the wider community, and future generations involved in agriculture and apiculture.