Shutinoski Apiary: Village Trebeništa - Struga, Macedonia

If you've ever wanted to escape to a destination where no one can find you while enjoying the stories of local heroes and indulging in their food, then the village of Trebeništa should be on your list.

In this village, you’ll come across the Shutinoski Apiary, a family-run bee farm led by Biljana, Dušan, and their son Leon Shutinoski, who has shown a deep passion for beekeeping and honey production from a young age.

Dušan, Leon’s father, shares that their journey began in 2013 as a simple hobby with just five bee colonies. Today, it has grown into a thriving business with over 50 bee colonies.

Although they live in Struga, they have no trouble traveling to the village daily to take care of their beekeeping duties.

Trebeništa sits at an ideal altitude of around 700 meters, surrounded by oak, chestnut, and pine forests. The meadows are rich with St. John’s wort, thyme, blackberries, and other wild fruits—providing an excellent natural environment for beekeeping.

Thanks to the rich surroundings and their dedication, Shutinoski now offers a diverse range of products, including honeycomb, pollen, 30% propolis spray, propolis drops, and their latest creation—an all-natural facial cream made from 100% beeswax, honey, St. John’s wort oil, vitamin E, and other natural ingredients. This cream is designed to combat acne and wrinkles.

Dušan’s goal is to expand their bee colonies to over 100. They are proud to have already won an award and certification from a competition in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina—earning a gold medal in one of the world's largest laboratory and sensory honey analyses, where 474 honey samples from 23 countries competed.

Dušan notes that the prices of their products fluctuate depending on the season's yield.

Contact: 070 247 850