Crescent-News.com - Latty facility is buzzing with product

By BECKY MARTINEZ

bmartinez@crescent-news.com

LATTY -- What does DreamWorks Animation in California, and Golden Heritage Foods LLC with a company in little Latty have in common?

An interest in bees.

Golden Heritage Foods, with facilities in Latty and Hillsboro, Ka., met with DreamWorks Animation and came up with a license agreement related to the upcoming movie, Bee Movie.

"Through discussion we reached a licensing agreement that allows us to take the star of the movie, Barry Bee, and put his image on our product," said Ben Gregory, marketing specialist at the Latty plant. "We've developed a special 2-oz sized bottle in the shape and likeness of Barry the bee which holds our pure, grade A honey, made right here in the United States.

"Certainly anything we do in terms of getting Barry's image out there will generate awareness for the movie," said Gregory. It will also generate awareness of honey.

In a press released issued by Golden Heritage Foods, Brent Barkman, executive chairman of the board of Golden Heritage Foods said, "This project provides us with an outstanding opportunity to elevate consumer awareness and education about the health benefits of honey and the huge role bees play in agricultural production."

Other than the licensing agreement, Golden Heritage Foods did not have a hand in the creation of the movie.

Gregory said Jerry Seinfeld, creator of Bee Movie, worked on the movie for about four years having "virtually all the research (of bees) done prior to our involvement."

The movie is about Barry B. Benson, a bee, who wants to do something more with his life than make honey for Honex.

He becomes friends with a human florist named Vanessa and learns that humans can purchase the bees' honey. Barry believes this is an injustice and wants to sue the human race for theft of their precious, sticky, sweet product.

To be released Nov. 2, Bee Movie "will change everything you thought you knew about bees," according to www.beemovie.com.

Gregory said Honey Nut Cheerios and Pez dispensers also have licensing agreements with DreamWorks Animation to use Barry's image. Golden Heritage Foods LLC packages millions of pounds of honey at its plants in Kansas and Ohio, and distributes it nationwide under various brand names.