Finding fresh, local honey at the farmers market is a summer treat worth savoring. Not only is honey the surest sign of a thriving ecosystem for pollinating bees, but it’s also a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet. Whether you’re drizzling it on a bowl of Greek yogurt or adding it to a steaming cup of tea, honey is the perfect substitute for sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
“Honey makes a fine choice for a sweetener and may have other beneficial properties, especially when used to soothe a sore throat or cough,” says Allison Leonard, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.
But the benefits go beyond helping with colds. “Some newer studies show that certain types of honey may contain prebiotics that help support healthy bacteria in the stomach,” Leonard says.
While you’ll likely find honey at farmers markets, it matters from where the honey comes. Because bees gather pollen within only a few miles of a hive, local honey will likewise be specific to that region. Here are a few NoVA places that specialize in honey.
Alexandria Honey Company
This company was founded in 2021 by West End beekeepers Jason and Christina Bruegger after the pair started harvesting more honey than they could use. Fast forward to today, and the business now sells its local honey online as it is harvested. Because it occasionally sells out of honey, stock can change by the day, so it’s advised to check the website often. The honey can be found at Made in ALX in Alexandria and Unwined Belle View in Belle View. In addition to honey, the company sells beeswax candles in several styles and shapes. Alexandria
Virginia Honey Bees
Virginia Honey Bees offers a variety of beeswax and beekeeping products, including beeswax lip balms, hot honey, and creamed honey. Although its raw honey is currently sold out online, it is replenished as new honey is harvested. The company sells at the Del Ray Farmers Market, the North Community Partnership Farmers and Artisans Market, Nature’s Nibbles, and Greenstreet Gardens. For those interested in beekeeping, the company also provides full apiary kits each spring, allowing you to potentially harvest your own honey next year. Alexandria
Goldberry Hill Honey
Celebrating its fourth anniversary, this family beekeeping business in Clifton offers raw, unfiltered local honey sold by the pound online. The honey is from nectar sources within a 3-mile radius of Clinton. The honey can be found at Ruppert’s Roughage farm stand. Ruppert’s Roughage: 13101 Springdale Estates Rd., Clifton
Hall’s Honey Farm
When you’re in Centreville, be sure to visit this apiary. There is no storefront. Just pull into the long driveway, and you’ll find a stand behind the house with different honeys. The stand is usually left unmanned, operating on the honor system. Fans on Yelp rave, “The honey is delicious! So much better than anything you can buy at the grocery stores.” 15400 Braddock Rd., Centreville
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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