Newsletter: Hello From Sarasota Honey Company,The Story Behind Our Lavender-Infused Honey.

Hello from Sarasota Honey Company!

We know it’s been a while since our last newsletter—and oh, how much has happened in that time! Like many in our community, we’ve faced some real challenges in the wake of recent hurricanes. Recovery hasn't been easy, and with the busy farmers market and holiday seasons sweeping in right after, it's been a whirlwind.

But through it all, we’re happy to share that Sarasota Honey Company is doing well. We’re hard at work rebuilding our hives, caring for our bees, and staying rooted in the mission that brought us here—bringing you local, sustainable, and delicious honey products.

We’re excited to reconnect and keep our loyal customers in the loop about what’s buzzing here at SHC. Stay tuned for updates, new products, and more sweet things to come!

Hurricane Milton and Helene: Our Story

The resilience and dedication of the Sarasota Honey Company (SHC) leadership team were put to the ultimate test this hurricane season. As Hurricane Helene loomed on the radar, showing a cone stretching from Tampa to the Panhandle, our team sprang into action. Preparedness has always been a cornerstone of our operations, and with the massive size of Helene bearing down, we knew time was of the essence.

Our priority was to secure our hives, chickens, and other livestock before the storm’s potential shift left us unprepared. The decision was also made to dismantle and transport all the motors and electrical components of our honey-harvesting and processing equipment. The effort was immense—breaking everything down, loading it into a trailer, and relocating it across the state to safer grounds. When I asked if this level of preparation was overkill, the team reminded me of Hurricane Ian’s trajectory and its devastating impact.

Their words resonated deeply: “There is no percentage of a gamble we are willing to take when it comes to protecting our livelihood and the livelihoods of those who work for us. There is no room here for the shoulda, woulda, or coulda.” Their commitment wasn’t just to our business but to the families and communities we serve, grounded in responsibility and faith. (Alma even used the moment to reference Acts 20:28—her way of getting me to read the Bible!)

As if the storm wasn’t enough, Helene brought a double hit for SHC. Every August, we travel to North Carolina with baby queen bee cells, placing them into miniature hives where the young princess bees hatch and mate with North Carolina male bees. This practice diversifies the genetics of our hives, ensuring the new queen bees are better suited for the cooler months ahead. By October, we return with the newly mated queens to populate our hives, helping our colonies thrive through Florida’s winter.

Unfortunately, due to Hurricane Helene, the roads to our baby queens were washed away, making it impossible to bring them back. This forced us to go into the winter months with our older Florida queen bees. The management team expressed concerns about their survival. “Are our older Florida queens going to make it through the winter?” they asked. Alma, ever the optimist, responded with a laugh and a point to herself: “If this old queen’s gonna make it through the winter, those old queens are gonna have to make it through too!”

Once Helene passed, the team reassembled the equipment and resumed operations. However, the storm left devastation in its wake. All our hives on the islands of Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, and North Beach were lost. Plans were quickly made to salvage any surviving bees. But before we could regroup, Hurricane Milton came roaring into view.

The aftermath of Hurricane Milton proved to be a logistical nightmare. So many fences were down, and properties required significant cleanup. To allow repairs and debris removal, our team had to move groups of hives from one yard to another temporary location. Once work was completed in the first yard, the hives had to be moved again—back to the original yard or to yet another location. This constant movement required meticulous coordination with homeowners, contractors, and weather conditions.

Rescheduling became a regular challenge, with repairs delayed due to weather or other unforeseen issues. The team’s ability to juggle these moving parts was nothing short of remarkable. Despite the chaos, our commitment to ensuring the safety of our hives and accommodating the needs of those affected by the storms never wavered.

Finding Silver Linings After the Storms

After two weeks without power, we returned to heartbreaking news—the few surviving hives on the barrier islands had been completely wiped out. Hurricane Melton had finished what Helene had started. It was a devastating blow.

And yet, in the midst of the loss, we found silver linings.

One blessing in disguise came from the very delays that had frustrated us. After Hurricane Ian, we lost an entire harvest, which would have funded new hive boxes. It took us from the spring following Ian all the way to the summer of 2024 to raise enough funds to replace them. But with Helene and Melton arriving so close together, we hadn’t yet had time to transfer the bees into the new boxes. Had we done so, those boxes likely would’ve been washed away by Melton. A delay that once felt like a setback turned out to be a bit of luck.

The other silver lining? Thanks to our preparedness, none of our bees perished. Every hive box had a small hole sealed with a wine cork. Before the storms hit, we removed the corks so the bees could escape if their hives were flooded or destroyed. And they did.

After the storm, we reached out on social media to our loyal community with a simple call:"Help us save the bees! Spend time with loved ones, enjoy a bottle of wine, and donate your corks to support our hives."

The response was incredible. Local non-for-profit Mothers helping Mothers went above and beyond by putting word out, donating several hundreds of corks! Cork donations rolled in at every collection point: The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, Sarasota Farmers Market, Venice Farmers Market, Wellen Park Farmers Market, Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market, and the Phillippi Farmhouse Market. Corks came pouring in from across the country—so many that we were able to share them with fellow beekeepers also affected by the storms.

These moments have reminded us just how powerful community, preparation, and perseverance truly are. Thank you for standing with us as we rebuild. With your support, and the strength of our bees, we’ll continue to weather every storm—together.

Buzz, Bees & a Trip to France: The Story Behind Our Lavender Honey

This special honey began not just in our kitchen, but in our backyard—with a little dog named Buzz. Buzz is our curious, mischievous pup who has a not-so-secret obsession with escaping to the tiki bar down the street. Despite our best efforts to keep him safe, he managed to dig his way out one day and badly injured his eye.

We went to two different veterinarians, but it was Dr. Sherrell at the VCA Clinic on Lockwood Ridge who truly saved his eye. Her kindness, expertise, and genuine love for animals gave us our sweet, silly Buzz back—and we were deeply grateful.

Wanting to thank her in a meaningful way, we asked if there was a special kind of honey she loved. Without missing a beat, she said lavender-infused honey. That was all we needed to hear.

From that moment, we set out to create something beautiful, calming, and heartfelt—just like the care Buzz received. And so, our Organic French Provence Lavender Infused Raw Honey was born.

A Tribute That’s Blossomed Into So Much More

We use local, hand-harvested Suncoast wildflower honey and infuse it with organic lavender from the world-renowned Provence region of France. Known for its vibrant purple fields, Provence offers the ideal conditions—sun, soil, and serenity—for the most fragrant, therapeutic lavender on earth. Since we launched it, this honey has become one of our most beloved creations—and now, it’s taking us on a journey of our own. We will be visiting the farms where this amazing lavender is grown!

This summer, we’re headed to France for the lavender bloom. It’ll be our first time visiting, and we already have plans to do a little beekeeping among the iconic lavender and sunflower fields of Provence. It’s a dream come true, inspired by a grateful heart, a healed pup, and a truly special jar of honey. If you’ve been to France, we’d love your suggestions!We’ll be exploring Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Grasse, and Paris, so if you know any must-see spots, hidden gems, or unforgettable places to eat—please share them with us!