Because people are hasty creatures, they want what they want NOW!! Southern beekeepers can raise bees sooner than northern keeps. Beekeepers want their packages as soon as possible. the sooner the better, it means they have more time to grow, and prepare for their first winter. Perhaps, even producing extra honey that first year...
An option for you to consider here;
Get those bees and try them, but you can also get the packages and start them... When your local beekeepers are finally capable of raising good queens, re queen those hives. In six weeks or so, those bees will be from that local queen, and you have locally bred hives.
Perhaps, even try both. If those bees are reputed to be good bees, see how they overwinter compared to a hive re queened with a locally mated queen.
Choose your best stock the following year and raise a few queens of your own from them. From there, you are off and running with good bees YOU like.