6 Reasons You Should Buy Local Honey
Supporting Local Beekeepers – Honey bees are not native to the United States. Local bees have adapted to specific regional conditions over time. Beekeepers help protect these unique genetic strains, preserving biodiversity. They’re passionate educators, often offering workshops and hive tours. By supporting them, you’re empowering community learning.
Boost the Local Economy – Your money stays local! Money spent on local honey often circulates within the community, helping local businesses flourish. Beekeepers purchase equipment, feed, and other supplies from local sources. This indirect spending bolsters other regional businesses.
A Purer Taste: Local honey is a direct gift from bees. It’s less processed and not heat treated like honey found in big supermarkets. Every region has its own unique flowers and trees that bloom throughout the seasons. This gives local and regional honey a unique flavor You’re tasting literally tasting the landscape, and it’s delicious.
Allergen Benefits – Bees are diligent little workers. As they flit from flower to flower, collecting nectar, they also pick up tiny amounts of pollen. This pollen eventually ends up in the honey stores back in the hive before being harvested for us to eat. This pollen eventually ends up in the honey stores back in the hive before being harvested for us to eat.
Less Carbon Footprint – Many products travel thousands of miles before they reach your plate. From fields to factories, to trucks or ships and finally to stores. Each step uses energy and emits carbon dioxide contributing to global warming. Buying local produce (honey included) forgoes the globe-trotting journey, massively decreasing the fossil fuels burned. And your local beekeeper uses minimal equipment, mostly powered by good old-fashioned elbow grease.
Encourages Responsible Practices – When you buy local honey, you directly support beekeepers with a vested interest in maintaining healthy bee populations. And this translates into better practices avoiding harmful pesticides that could endanger bees. Responsible beekeeping goes beyond just honey production.
