Bob Binnie began commercial beekeeping in 1981 in Oregon & has been involved in commercial beekeeping in 10 states. He handles all beekeeping and sale for Blue Ridge Honey Company that he operates with wife, Suzette.

Blue Ridge Honey Co. is a family business, owned and operated by Bob & Suzette Binnie, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northeast Georgia.

Our bee yards are located in Northeast Georgia, Western North Carolina and South Georgia.

Our honey is pure, natural and raw. We do not pasteurize or micro filter our honey.

We are inspected and approved through a third party Food Safety and Quality Audit conducted by NSF Cook & Thurber as is required by many large grocery stores. We are also licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and inspected by the Commodities Inspection Division of the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture.

We wholesale & retail honey, pollen, and beeswax products, as well as produce bees and queens for sale.

Ashby Miller and his wife Cori own/operate Ashby Farms located in Burlington NC. Together, they manage ~500 colonies in 16 apiaries.
Their main focus has been propagating varroa-mite resistant (VSH) stock through a rigorous series of selection criteria. In addition to Queens/Nucs, they are NCDA Certified Sourwood Honey Producers, and also provide pollination services.

Julia Mahood is a Georgia Master Crafts beekeeper from Atlanta.

Brandon Simmons is a third-generation beekeeper and the owner of Foothills Farm & Apiary LLC. With a legacy rooted in beekeeping, Brandon seamlessly integrates traditional practices with innovative approaches to support sustainable and resilient honeybee populations.

Brandon's journey in beekeeping spans over two decades, during which he has cultivated a deep understanding of hive dynamics and colony health. As the owner of Foothills Farm & Apiary, he leads a breeding program that blends time-tested methods with modern advancements. With a strong commitment to sustainability and chemical-free practices, his program focuses on improving honeybee genetics through instrumental insemination and selective breeding.

Under his leadership, Foothills Farm & Apiary has been at the forefront of honeybee breeding for seven years. The program employs a precise approach to genetic selection, utilizing instrumental insemination to propagate desirable traits such as disease resistance, hygienic behavior, and overall colony vitality.

Brandon's dedication extends beyond the apiary; he is actively engaged in research to further understand the genetic factors influencing honey bee traits. His commitment to sustainability is reflected in his expansion of breeding operations, ongoing genetic studies, and educational outreach efforts.

With a vision for a resilient future for honeybee populations, Brandon Simmons continues to drive progress in beekeeping. Through Foothills Farm & Apiary, he strives to not only enhance honeybee genetics but also educate and inspire a community of beekeepers committed to sustainable practices.

Research Associate Professor at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Millet will be discussing his recently published study on the unique values of East Tennessee pollen.