World Honey Bee Day

On this World Honey Bee day, we want to honor our precious pollinators by shedding some light on the honey industry and give you some tips on how to be a conscious consumer for the bees and planet. Honey has been used as medicine for as long as 8,000 years for wound healing, respiratory infections, as an antibacterial agent, and even for anxiety and depression. Nowadays it’s become popular in skincare, haircare, and as a sweet addition to drinks, treats, and everything in between. In 2021, the United States alone produced 126 million pounds of honey among 2.7 million bee colonies. With the sheer mass of honey being produced, it is important for us to make conscious decisions about where we source our honey from for whatever we may use it for. 

Conventional honey bee keeping can often result in hive-killing diseases, “culling” the hive to avoid costs of feeding them in the winter, and exposure to harmful pesticides. To avoid supporting these practices, we can choose to buy locally made and sustainably harvested honey. The beekeepers who adopt sustainable practices respect the natural behavior of bees, eliminate the use of harmful chemicals, and effectively and safely manage bee colonies for a safe hive and responsible honey production. This isn’t only better for the bees, but also better for the environment since more natural ecosystems are maintained and your honey has to travel less distance, thereby cutting back on pollution and saving resources. Supporting local beekeepers and honey bees helps strengthen our communities and shows our appreciation for our vital ecosystem and the honey bees. To get started, Local Honey Finder.org is just one of many great resources to find local honey producers in your area. We thank you for taking the time on this World Honey Bee day to learn more about the bees, the honey industry, and how to be a conscious consumer!