The best reason to purchase local honey is quality. Large scale

production and packing of honey necessitates methods which compromise the

products quality. Smaller, local producers can spend the extra minutes it takes

to do the things that result in a first rate honey pack. Local honey comes in

many varieties and flavors. Some such as locust or clover are very mild while

other such as goldenrod or buckwheat are more robust. There is a honey

variety to suit every one. Visit your local beekeeper and discover what a treat

honey can be.

Supporting local beekeepers is good for the environment. Much

of the food that wildlife depends on comes from plants that need insects to

pollinate their flowers. When this function is not done a smaller seed and mast

crop results. Many native pollinators have disappeared and the once abundant

wild honey bee has succumbed to parasitic mites. As a result there are not

enough pollinating insects to help produce the food our wildlife needs.

Honeybees also benefit local gardens and orchards.

Buy local, buy safe. More than half of the honey sold in the US is

imported from other countries. A few of the supplying countries have in place

production regulations similar to those in the US and Canada. Most honey,

however, is imported from places that allow producers to use production

methods that are illegal in developed nations due to food safety, environmental

or worker safety concerns. Buy locally produced food and be confident it was

produced with methods that insure its safety.