It’s honey harvest season! Here’s where to get fresh honey in New Hampshire

Wondering what all the buzz is about? It’s honey harvest season! Head to these local farms to source fresh honey in New Hampshire. 

The best months to harvest honey are from July to mid-September, with July and August being the ripest season for honey production. In the winter, farmers markets carry honey and honey products, keeping your sweetooth satisfied all year long.

First, some quick facts: There are almost 20,000 honeybee species that exist in the world, but only eight are the honey-producing bees. In 2024, honey production in the entire country totaled 134 million pounds, down approximately 4 percent from 2023.

In New Hampshire, honey production can be traced back to the 18th century, and almost 1,418,000 pounds of honey is produced in the state each year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The main types of honey found in the state are: buckwheat, blueberry, orange blossom, mint, wildflower, and basswood (the most common are buckwheat and wildflower).

What is honey harvesting, though? 

Honeybees visit almost 50 million flowers everyday, gathering fresh nectar and pollen to make honey inside the hive.

Honey harvesting involves the removal of honey from hives when the frame contains 80% of capped honey, and is considered to be one of the most ancient human activities. Once the honey is removed it is filtered through screens to remove any wax or debris. Beeswax is then collected for melting and processing. Beekeepers usually leave behind enough honey to sustain the bees through the winter.

Even though climate change is putting a huge amount of stress on hives, beekeeping is still a mainstay for many local family-owned businesses in the state.

Where to get fresh honey in New Hampshire 

French author Victor Hugo once said, “Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” But where to source the creamiest, most delicious, the freshest and best honey in New Hampshire—that is the question. Here’s a list!

1. Busy Beezzz Apiary and Gardens in Hooksett 

A family owned bee farm, Busy Beezzz is a 20-year-old business based in Hooksett. The business provides high-quality, farm fresh beekeeping supplies, beekeeper training, and microgreens. And of course, it sells top-tier scrumptious New England Wildflower honey—freshly harvested to retain every drop of enzymes, antioxidants and beneficial nutrients. Don’t forget to try their creamy whipped honey and experience a whole new joy of sweetness! Schedule a time to visit their shop here.

In addition to purchasing their deliciously harvested honey, you can also get beekeeper training—from hive and pest management to honey harvesting—here from some of the most talented and experienced beekeepers in the industry.

Busy Beezzz also has a fresh fruit and vegetable stand for families in Southern New Hampshire.

2. Main Street Maple and Honey Farm in Belmont

This sugar house and honey bee farm is located on 186 Main Street in Belmont, and the business has its apiaries—with more than 80 beehives—spread throughout the Lakes Region.

Honey is harvested at this farm twice a year—a light yet sweet early summer honey, and a darker, rich late summer honey.

Nothing goes to waste here, since the wax from honey removal is melted into exquisite wax candles and wax bars. Shop their online honey products and gift sets here.

They’re typically open by appointment, seven days a week. Schedule one here.

For maple lovers—their season starts in February and ends in early April. You can find everything you need to know here.

3. Hillside Beekeeping Supplies in Merrimack 

Owner Allen Lindah has been in the beekeeping business for more than thirty years, and was the former president of the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association.

At Hillside, they not only know everything about bees, but also help other beekeeping businesses stay abreast with the latest developments in research—providing honey processing equipment or mite treatment.

Learn more about the business here.

4. Seabee Honey in Rye 

Try 100% local New Hampshire raw honey from Seabee Honey in Rye. Their honey is fresh, local wildflower honey, but also offer mono-floral honey such as apple blossom, buckwheat, linden, or blueberry honey.

They have apiaries in Epping, Lee, Greenland, Exeter, Portsmouth, Hampton, North Hampton, Rye, Hampton Falls, Brentwood, Newmarket, New Castle, Londonderry, Newfields, Stratham and other towns in the area.

Seabee offers local honey in half pound and one pound containers to local customers. To inquire more about their honey, write to them at [email protected].

In addition to producing local honey and beeswax, Seabea offers a multitude of services including conducting presentations on honey bees and pollinators and hive sponsorship.

P.S. Did you know honeybees are not native to North America? Or that a honeybee could visit over 16,000 flowers in its lifetime? For more such interesting honeybee facts, check out Seebee’s bee facts page.

5. Hall Apiaries in Plainfield 

Located in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire, Hall Apiaries’ main honey crops are: basswood (linden), white clover, dutch clover, honey suckle, locust, sumac, golden rod, japanese knotweed, and asters.

Started as a hobby by the founders, Hall Apiaries maintains hives without any treatment against mites and other ailments because the breeder queens selected here have a high mite tolerance and sustain the winter better.

Hall sells a range of honey products—from a jar of creamy honey to a lotion bar available in different scents. Check out their product line here.

6. Calef’s NH Honey in Barrington 

“On the Barrington Road, not far from Dover, You will find it pays to be a rover; For once you find Calef’s store, There you’ll trade for evermore!”

Calef’s Country Store offers some of the finest New England products, and has been in operation since 1869. Owner Mary Chesley Calef mortgaged her family farm and opened her modest storefront, which ran in the family until the 1990s.

With food and other merchandise galore, Calef’s is much loved in the local community.

Youc an buy their local NH honey here.

Don’t know what to do with their pure, fresh honey? Check out a few of their honey recipes that you’d keep in regular rotation in your kitchen.

7. Concord Bee Company in Concord 

Founded by father-daughter-duo Jim and Katie Watt in 2020, this business emerged out of a newly founded interest during the pandemic. Now, the family-owned business is run with the mission of offering healthy, wholesome products created through thoughtful techniques that leave a green footprint and improve the environment.

From beeswax body butter and lip balm to honey straws—shop local at Concord Bee on their website. They’ve most recently also started selling beekeeping supplies such as medium boxes and glass jars.

Concord Bee also rents out their hives to local beekeepers to help with bee pollination at $200 per hive, along with professional hive inspection services to ensure bee health.

In need of a recipe with honey as the prime ingredient? They’ve got you covered.

8. White Mountain Apiary in Whitefield

Run in a natural and organic manner, White Mountain Apiary offers a range of fresh honey products along with tailored private classes for adults and children. After offering beginner level beekeeping instruction for years, they now offer intermediate and advanced classes.

For anyone who has unwanted hive growth in their homes, they’ll do a humane hive removal and relocation. If you call an exterminator, they’ll match the price and save the bees!

Happy honey harvesting!