What does raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized honey mean?

Raw honey has not been pasteurized with high heat. Pasteurization destroys the beneficial enzymes, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Unfiltered honey contains all the natural pollen the bees collected. Many commerical operations will filter all the pollen out of honey in an effort to prevent crystallization.

Does honey go bad?

Honey does not expire or go “bad”. It will crystallize but this is a natural process of high quality honey. Honey has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back 3,000 years and is still completely edible!

Is my honey bad if it crystallized?

Honey has an indefinite shelf life. Over time, sometimes days, sometimes years, pure natural honey will crystallize. This is a sign of high quality honey. Crystallization is a process where “sugar crystals" build on pollen and other natural substances in real honey. Crystals build upon crystals and continue to grow. The rate that honey changes to crystals is dependent on pollen content and the type of nectar gathered. Some nectar crystallize faster than others.

How do I uncrystallize my honey? 

Warm a pot of water on the stove. Place the jar (with the lid on) in the pot and let the gentle heat melt the crystals. Never heat raw honey over 115 degrees F. It is also not recommended to warm in the microwave as they do not heat evenly and will easily over heat and destroy the beneficial properties of raw honey.

Does Local honey really help with allergies?

Local honey is great for seasonal allergies! The majority of our customers and repeat customers buy our local raw honey for allergies. Small amounts of pollen contained in the honey help with a person's sensitivity to seasonal pollens. Raw honey won't with other types of allergies like dust and mold.

Where are your bees located?

The hives are located up and down the front range in Colorado, including Florence, CO. 

How long have you been a beekeeper?

We have been beekeepers for about eight years. We retired from the larger beekeeping operation but still have bees in our backyard.

 How many hives do you have?

We have retired from beekeeping and have scaled down significantly. Our son and a friend manage the bees now. Between all of us there are several thousand hives, all of which are up and down the front range in Colorado, including Florence, Colorado.