Apipasta Fondant Plus Protein

Apipasta Plus is a ready-to-use fondant pollen substitute in paste form. Same easy handling as a sugar paste — set the tray on top of the frames and let the bees take it — but this one carries protein, vitamins, and minerals on top of the energy. The formula is built around a bee's natural diet of roughly 80% honey and 20% pollen. That works out to 3% raw protein, sourced from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and matched to the essential amino acids bees need (De Groot profile). A sugar paste supplies the carbohydrates, with a small amount of vegetable fat, plus the vitamins and minerals found in pollen at similar concentrations. Key Features No mixing, no mess — ready to use straight from the tray; set it over the cluster and close up, no water or warming needed. Pollen nutrients, one tray — 3% raw protein with the essential amino acids, carbohydrates, a small amount of vegetable fat, B-group vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6), vitamins C, K, and A, and minerals including calcium, sodium, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus. Fast population build-up — put it on two weeks before you want the colony to build, and replace it every two weeks to keep the resources coming. Trial-tested hive growth — in a University of Murcia field trial, hives fed Apipasta Plus gained an average of about 93 lb over six months, vs. about 71 lb on plain sugar paste and 54 lb with no feed. Rebuilds protein reserves — helps the colony recover its reserves after the flow, preps the hive for winter, and stimulates the colony a few weeks before bloom. No effect on honey quality — honey analysis from the same research found every sample from Apipasta-fed hives met EU honey standards, with no antibiotics detected and no difference in aroma or taste. No HMF — made without hydroxymethylfurfural, the compound that builds up in overheated feed and is toxic to bees. Stock up without worry — each tray is sealed in plastic at manufacture and has a 3-year shelf life unopened. No climate control needed — it stores on the shelf at room temperature. Save with a 4 pack or case — since you'll be swapping in a fresh tray every two weeks during build-up, a 4 pack or case brings your cost per tray well below buying singles, and the case is the better deal of the two. Running a bigger operation? A full pallet brings it down further. What the Trial Does and Doesn't Tell You The numbers above come from a single trial: eight hives per group, Langstroth boxes, Iberian honey bees, in a Mediterranean climate in southeast Spain, fed from December through April. That's a real result, but it's a small trial in one climate — your colonies, bees, and forage will behave differently. And 3% protein reflects a whole-diet ratio, not concentrated pollen, so if you're pushing a big spring build-up through a long pollen dearth, a higher-protein patty like our Bee Pro Protein Patties is still the heavier hitter. How to Use Set the tray directly on the top bars, over the cluster, and put the cover back on. No diluting, warming, or mixing. Because it sits on top of the frames, you'll need a little headroom under the lid — an empty super, a shim, or a Cypress Spacer and Feeder Rim gives the bees room to reach it. Pull your honey supers before you feed. Timing is what drives the build-up. Put Plus on about two weeks before you want the colony to start building, then replace it with a fresh tray after two weeks. Keeping it topped up gives the colony the resources it needs to grow its population quickly. Seasonal Use This pollen substitute is best for spring build-up, rebuilding protein reserves in fall, and carrying a colony through summer dearths when pollen is scarce — it works as a year-round feed. Start it two weeks ahead of when you want spring build-up to begin, and put it on at the start of fall to prepare the colony for winter. Product Details Composition Sugar paste with yeast protein, vegetable fat, vitamins, and minerals Protein 3% raw protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, formulated to the De Groot essential amino acid profile Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, K, A Minerals Calcium, sodium, selenium, zinc, phosphorus HMF None Feeding schedule Start 2 weeks before build-up; replace every 2 weeks Shelf life 3 years sealed Storage Ambient shelf storage — no climate control needed Format Tray Tray sizes 1.1 lb and 2.2 lb Tray dimensions 1.1 lb: 6.5 x 4.75 x 1.1 in / 2.2 lb: 9 x 6.5 x 1.1 in Packaging Sealed plastic tray Pack options Single tray, 4 pack, case, pallet Case 28 trays (1.1 lb) or 14 trays (2.2 lb); 14 x 9.5 x 8.5 in; 32 lb Pallet 60 cases (1,680 x 1.1 lb or 840 x 2.2 lb trays); 48 x 32 x 56 in; 1,950 lb; ships on a European (1200 x 800 mm) pallet Manufacturer Zukan Research summary Trial and honey-quality results (PDF) Related Reading Feeding Bees Pollen and Protein Substitutes: What You Need to Know What Do Bees Eat? 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