Making bee products

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Radio interview source: Lee Heine, honey producer

I went to a honey-tasting party one time where we sampled all different flavors of honey. The flavor all depends on what the bees have been eating. We tried clover, avocado, and sassafras honey, but my favorite was the honey that bees made from tupelo trees. There are over 350 kinds of honey in the U.S.

In most states, one hive will average 90 to 100 pounds of honey per year. Lee Heine raises bees and says making and selling honey products can be profitable.

"If people try to retail honey themselves it's great," Heine says. "In our state there are 231 farmer's markets going right now. The most successful people are the ones that do market their own product."

Honey is used in lip balms, moisturizing creams, and barbecue sauces. It is high in potassium, which makes it difficult for germs to survive. It also has a long shelf life, probably longer than you think. In fact, 2,000-year-old jars of honey have been found in Egyptian tombs and were still edible.