Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

Buying local honey isn’t just a sweet choice, it’s a responsible one. When cheap foreign honey floods the market, it threatens U.S. beekeepers and introduces products that may be adulterated, poorly regulated, or unsafe. Honey loses its sweetness if it comes at the cost of our health, our livelihoods, and the survival of American beekeeping. Choosing local protects consumers, supports honest beekeepers, and preserves the integrity of our food system.

The U.S. Honey Supply Imbalance

The United States consumes far more honey than it produces, creating a significant supply imbalance and heavy dependence on imports. In 2024, U.S. honey production totaled about 134 million pounds, while consumption reached roughly 688.6 million pounds—meaning domestic producers supplied only about 24% of the honey used in the United States. (nass.usda.gov; prnewswire.com) To bridge the gap, the U.S. imported an estimated 560+ million pounds of honey in 2024.

This heavy reliance on imported honey poses economic and food-security concerns, including increased vulnerability to foreign market disruptions, price volatility, and quality control challenges.

Imported Honey and Quality Concerns

Imported honey often does not meet the same safety and quality standards required of honey produced in the United States. Naturally occurring honey contains antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that contribute to its medicinal and nutritional value, but these benefits can be lost through a process known as adulteration. Adulteration occurs when honey is diluted with sweeteners or produced by feeding bees artificial substitutes instead of natural nectar.

While U.S. beekeepers must follow strict regulations and ethical harvesting practices—at an average cost of $2.63 per pound—many foreign producers operate with less cost (around .83 cents a pounds) and less oversight. As a result, imported honey is far more likely to be adulterated, undermining both its quality and local beekeepers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has documented instances in which imported honey failed to meet standards due to undeclared added sweeteners, and such products were refused entry. (fda.gov)

When honey is diluted or adulterated, consumers are cheated out of the real thing—and the honey loses much of its value, both nutritionally and economically.

Honey’s Local Flavor and Unique Value

The sweet taste of honey has been passed down through generations. From soothing common colds to flavoring candy, it is a household staple that most Americans know and love. Local beekeepers work hard to keep this product on shelves, yet they face steep competition from foreign honey producers.

When you choose to shop locally you empower the community! From your purchase all the way back to the birth of the bee, that honey comes from within state lines. Not just the honey either—many Alabama beekeepers understand the importance of community. Therefore, many of the products they purchase—including hives, suits, even extractors—may be Alabama products!

Did you know honeybees tend to forage around a 1–2-mile radius around their hive? What this means to you is the honey you buy from your local beekeeper will literally taste like home! This local honey is so unique—imagine it like a beautiful bouquet. Honeybees go out and hand-pick flowers you may see on the side of the road and organize this “bouquet” into a lovely honey product. That means that you can only get that arrangement from your local bees; every pound of honey you purchase is composed of your community.

The Importance of Supporting Real Honey

Stop fake honey at the source. Adulterated honey cheats consumers, harms honest beekeepers, and threatens pollinators. These threats—economic, environmental, and nutritional—are not hypothetical; they are real consequences of an unbalanced honey market. Demand transparent testing, clear labeling, and real enforcement now. Support verified local producers. Ask brands to prove purity—not market sweetness. If it isn’t real honey, it shouldn’t be on our shelves.

When you choose local, you protect your health, your community, and the future of American beekeeping.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Sweet Grown Alabama.