If you have any kind of a sweet tooth you've probably noticed that honey costs more these days.

While consumers may feel the sting of increased honey prices, the added revenue has supported expansion and a healthy bottom line for Joyce's Honey Ranch.

Bees produce honey as food stores for the hive during the long winter months. Bees have been producing honey as they do today for the last 150 million years.

This Alberta based business produces hundreds of gallons of honey each year. With hundreds of hives on the go and an automated extraction plant pumping out gallon after gallon of honey, this home biz is buzzing with activity.

There're definitely no casual Fridays in this business. You either wear a protective suit every day or suffer the consequences.

The Joyce's son, in fact was stung 45 times at once but he was fine. One sting will send others to the hospital. The more often you're stung, the more likely you are to have a reaction.

Canadian beekeepers produce about 34.5 tonnes of honey annually for a total value of 75 million dollars.

Sheila says that tending bees isn't really that labour intensive other than the set up and harvesting, which they bring in extra help for.

It's the bees that do all the work! The Joyce's used to do a lot of the packaging themselves for sales to local stores but it's not worth all the time and effort compared to bulk selling. Demand is so high that their entire supply is bought by the packers.

Not all of the honey gets to market. Occasionally bears want in on the action as well and will brave the bees for the golden treat, destroying several hives in the process.