The Y2K Buzz -- Literally

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The Y2K Buzz -- Literally

Survivalists packing up food to wait out possible Y2K food shortages are putting honey at the top of their supply lists, sending sales of the virtually nonperishable sweetener through the roof.

"There are a lot of people out there who believe we're going back to the Stone Age," said beekeeper and honey-seller Randy Oliver, who runs Randy Oliver Apiaries. "They're buying their honey now because they think they're going to have to survive on these supplies for a long time."

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Oliver said his business has increased tenfold in less than a year. The California beekeeper, who sells his honey to a provider of freeze-dried and dehydrated food supplies, said he's sold more than 60,000 pounds of honey during the last year, a gargantuan amount for a small company like his.

"People are worried that the food distribution system will break down entirely," Oliver said. "They know they'll want something sweet in the meantime, so honey is the key."

Sales of all kinds of nonperishable foods are way, way up, agreed Chrissy Grant, spokeswoman for nonperishable food company AlpineAire. The company, which sells food packages meant to sustain individuals and families for a year or more, has seen its business almost triple in size during 1998 and 1999.

"We went from a small company with 12 employees to a company with 115 employees within six months," said Grant. "The people ordering from us believe Y2K could be Armageddon, the end of the world. They want to be prepared."

Grant said that most customers are either the "right-wing patriot, government-conspiracy types" or elderly people who are worried that their restricted mobility may add even more complications to Y2K problems. "They're trading their cash for gold, they're building bomb shelters, and they're buying food. A lot of food."

AlpineAire expects another huge increase in business in the fall of 1999 as last-minute survivalists lay in supplies.

-- Mild Mannered Reporter (Clark@super.duper), June 28, 1999

Answers

In case you were wondering, they know that we're "right wing patriot, government-conspiracy types" because they ask you right on the warranty forms that come with their excellent products. Look on the bottom when they gather marketing information. I think it goes like this:

Check the following that apply: Would you like your name to be distributed to: [] other companies who may want to contact you about their products? [] federal agencies for survaliance, early morning raids or siege by armored vehicles [] both

[] Would you like to be stigmatized as a right wing patriot... [] Government conspiracy type or [] both

Customer service is number one at ol' Alpine Foods.

'course, I don't mind being called "Right Wing" now that we've seen what the '60's left wing crazies do when they get in to power. Have to ask a weather man which way the wind is blowing now.

Watch six and keep your...

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.net), June 28, 1999.


I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but most off the shelf honey won't store very well for long periods. Modern beekeeping methods involve removing honey from the hive and taking it from the comb by centrifugal force in a sort of spin dryer. The honey will be taken when about half to two thirds of the cells are capped. So quite a bit of not-quite-fully-ripened honey will be taken as well as fully ripe honey. This all gets mixed together, and the honey is strained and then heat treated. All this will keep it from crystallizing for about 6 to 8 months. After that, it will crystallize. To reliquify it, you have to heat it above 104 degrees farenheit until it is all liquid again. Don't boil honey - it will recrystallize very quickly if you do this. Honey that is not fully ripe can sometimes ferment or turn sour.

If you really want to store honey, buy some fully capped comb honey from a local beekeeper, and double bag in ziploc or heat sealed bags. I bagged fully capped comb honey for years, while I kept bees, and had little trouble with crystallized honey.

If you want more info about honey and bees than you will be likely to ever read through, go to the local public library and request a late edition of the 'ABC and XYZ of Beekeeping'. Classic work in the field.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), June 28, 1999.


There's a fella in a small East Texas town who's a nice enough guy. He just goes on incessantly about all the things he's done, all the experiences he's had, all the people he's known.

If, at the morning coffee table, someone opines that he once climbed a 50-foot tree, this fella climbed one 60 feet tall. Why, he's been a policeman, an offshore worker, a heavy equipment operator, a professional musician who knew Bob Wills real well, you name it, he's done it.

We've calculated that he's 187 years old, though he doesn't look a day over 50.

His name is Paul, too.

-- Vic (Rdrunner@internetwork.net), June 28, 1999.


There's a fellow who lived in small artist's enclave out in California who was also a nice enough guy. "Mr. Morrow" would also go on incessantly about all the action he'd been involved in. Like the fella from East Texas, he also claimed to have been at various times a policeman, an offshore worker, a heavy equipment operator etc. Why, he even claimed to have once played the romantic lead in a Hollywood movie! Then one night, Mr. Morrow failed to heed the advice given to him by people far wiser than himself. And then it happened. From out of the darkness it came. And with it came a furious wind whipping up the icy waters which he stumbled through, a child clutched tightly beneath each arm. You see, the helicopter (black?) had lost control and it's rotor blades spun savagely into our hero. We've calculated the he was shredded into 187 pieces.

Ya know what's really ironic Vic? His name was Vic too.

Moral of the story: Uh, er, well, I'm not really sure, but I'll bet there's a really good one in there somewhere.

Thanks for the info Paul.

-- CD (not@here.com), June 28, 1999.


i've been checking the price of honey at Lehi Mills for about a year now and it hasn't change d a dime, still $60 bucks for a 45# pail.

Lehi Mills

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), June 28, 1999.



Or it could be Vic some of us collect life experiances like some people collect fine crystal. I'm 27, I currently have four business cards to my name from working with different companies. Why? Because I like the money? Nope. I like collecting experiences. In my opinion every experience makes you a better, more well rounded person.

I started working when I was 8, I craved experiences and I have never stopped. Every oppurtunity that comes my way, no matter what (as long as it is legal), I do it. By the age of 11 I was being invited into business meetings for my opinions. By the age of 15 I owned my own business. And people wonder why I only sleep about 5 hours a night.

Yes, it is quite possible that your Texas Paul pulled legs, doesn't mean everyone with a lot of life experiances has.

-- Living Life To It's Fullest (full@life.com), June 29, 1999.


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