The Search for Local Honey

I wanted to test out the somewhat controversial theory that locally produced honey acts as an immunity booster for allergies caused by the pollen in local plants. Even if honey has no impact on allergies, I like to try to support local food sources. I asked the people on the New Mexico City-Data Forum at http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-mexico/179967-local-honey-eastern-new-mexico.html where to find honey produced on the high plains of New Mexico or reasonably close by. Although this led to a few awful honey puns—Did you say you were looking for a local honey, as in the personal ads? Bee-hive yourself!—the good people on the forum soon sent in suggestions about New Mexican honey.

I’ll list their local honey sources below, along with a few more I found in my research. First I’d like to quote, with permission, a delicious commentary on honey varieties produced by Star G Honey. It includes a great description of the beekeeper, whom I must presume is a very close friend of the writer.

“Native Son” writes: Star G Honey in Mosquero produces 6-8 different varieties of honey each year... ranging in color from white White Sweetclover through very dark amber Desert Wildflowers, and including very light amber Spring Wildflowers and Yellow Sweetclover, light amber Summer Mountain Wildflowers, amber Mesquite & Cactus Flowers and Autumn Mountain Wildflowers. Some of the darker honeys are very rich-flavored, almost chocolatey, while the White Sweetclover and Spring Wildflowers honeys are delicately mild-flavored.

Star G Honey has sponsored supplemental premium and ribbon awards for amateur beekeepers at the New Mexico State Fair for the past 15 years, to foster and encourage beginning and amateur beekeepers.You can find their honey at the natural food store in Las Vegas and at the mercantile store in Gladstone. They also ship honey to all the 50 states. Or you can get it directly from the beekeeper at the honeyhouse in downtown Mosquero. But it's always best to call in advance before planning to visit, because the beekeeper is often many miles away in a canyon, the mountains, or somewhere out in the vast and beautiful high plains of northeastern NM. They're listed in the phone book.

The beekeeper at Star G Honey has been practicing the 'gentle craft' of beekeeping for 38 years... 37 of them here in northeastern New Mexico. He's usually a pretty nice guy, and extremely knowledgeable about honeybees and, in general, the flora and fauna and natural history of New Mexico and the greater Southwest. But he can sometimes be an irascible old codger and doesn't always suffer fools with any of the patience with which he keeps and tends his honeybees.

According to other members of the forum:

Star G Honey has a pretty extensive operation in Mosquero, NM, about 35 miles NW of Logan, 110 from Clovis. Star G sells at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market and provides bulk honey sold at most Northern NM Food Coops and organic food grocery stores.

Star G Honey

25 Main St.

Mosquero, NM 87733

505-673-2325

There's also Tule Creek Apiary outside of Tulia, TX... their honey is usually available at Lowe's/Super Save groceries in NM.

Tule Creek Apiary

HCR 4, Box 14E

Tulia, TX 79088

Contact: Mr. Kenneth PattonTelephone: (806) 668-4414

While searching the Texas Food Directory, I found:
Fain’s Honey

HC 09, Box 14

Llano, TX 78643

Products include: Pecan-Honey Butter, Almond Honey Butter, Amaretta-Pecan Honey Butter, Lemon Honey Spread, Cinamon Honey Spread, Creamed Honey.

The New Mexico Specialty Food Retail Directory lists:
A-Bee Honey Farms
P. O Box 903
Edgewood, NM 87015
Phone: (505) 286-4843
Fax: (505) 286-8735
Email: nmbeeman@aol.com

Zia Queenbee Company
277 CR 63 Apodaca
Dixon, NM 87527
Phone: (505) 579-4552
Fax: Same
Email: ziaqueenbees@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://www.ziaqueenbees.com/
Varietal NM honey from northern to southern NM.
See a listing and description of their varietal honeys at http://www.ziaqueenbees.com/honey.htm

Mimbres Valley Honey
104 San Tomas Rd.
San Lorenzo, NM 88041
Phone: (575) 536-9772
Fax: (575) 536-9772
Email: beekeeper@gilanet.com
Web Site: www.gilanet.com/beekeeper
Raw honey & bee pollen.
For information about their products: http://www.gilanet.com/beekeeper/products.htm