Support Bill Crawford's Family After Tragedy

Bill Crawford, of New England Apiaries was tragically killed in a horrible accident Wednesday in Oregon. According to Oregon police, 35-year-old William (Bill) Crawford died Thursday as a direct results of injuries he suffered in the crash.

Crawford, of Southwick, Massachusetts, was working with fellow beekeepers in a company vehicle in the 6100 block of Brown Road in the early hours of June 4. Police said in a press release Wednesday that the beekeepers were using a forklift to load cargo onto the company vehicle when a 20-year-old driving a Chevy Silverado truck hit the forklift.

from their website, “Founder Bill Crawford started what would become New England Apiaries in 2005 at only 15 years old. After graduating from the Hampden County Beekeepers Association Bee School, his parents purchased his first beehive. What started as a humble hobby has since grown into the largest migratory beekeeping operation in Western New England.

In 2007, Bill started selling his surplus packed honey out of his backpack in school and at the produce farm he then worked at in Westfield under the name “Billy C’s Raw Honey”. Bill’s biology background, beekeeping expertise, and natural business sense have helped lead him towards pursuing the American dream.

In 2007, Bill started selling his surplus packed honey out of his backpack in school and at the produce farm he then worked at in Westfeld under the name “Billy C’s Raw Honey”. Since then, his bee business was operated under the name “Pioneer Valley Apiary”, and in 2012, while starting to gather a larger vision for his business, started to do some business as New England Apiaries. Bill’s biology background, beekeeping expertise, and natural business sense have helped lead him towards pursuing the American dream.“

let’s come together as a beekeeping community, and show our love and support to this young family who have had their lives flipped upside down. Bill, may you rest in sweet peace.