The Charlottetown Guardian | Opinion | October 22, 1999
Betty Howatt of Tryon writes in this letter that for many years we have grown plain ordinary rapeseed, now called canola, as a part of the rotation on our farm. Our reasons for doing so were these: when cut and ploughed in before seed developed it provided green manure; its roots exuded a chemical into the soil that provided a control against nematodes that harmed strawberry plants; the most important was that its flowers produced nectar that resulted in a high quality honey, light in colour with a very fine grained, smooth granulation.
The book 'Plants for Beekeeping in Canada' written by Jane Ramsay (who spent some time working with bees in P.E.I.) published by the International Bee Research Association (1987), confirmed our belief in the quality of the honey, "(rape) considered a better honey source than white clover and some say it is the best honey plant known", "flavour like wine."
In a Guardian article 'Province's new canola industry keeps Norboro bees buzzing', Oct. 12, 1999), we read the statement 'the honey can only be sold for baking purposes'. We question why this is so. Is it because this honey comes from genetically modified seed which caused a change in the quality of the nectar the plant produces? Is it because of the herbicides used on the plants from these seeds, or is it a combination of these factors?
Beekeepers, such as ourselves, who sell honey directly for human consumption should be on the alert if genetically modified canola is introduced into their areas.
