National Honey Month

​

Every September, the United States observes National Honey Month — a celebration of honeybees, the beekeeping industry, and the natural sweetener that has been part of human life for thousands of years. The observance runs from September 1 through September 30 each year.

​

History and Origins

National Honey Month was established in 1989 by the National Honey Board, an industry-funded research and promotion organization overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The observance was created to raise awareness of the beekeeping industry, honor the work of honey producers and beekeepers, and highlight honey as an all-natural, single-ingredient food product.

September is a fitting month for the celebration: it typically marks the close of the active beekeeping season in most U.S. climates, as bees shift their focus toward preparing their hives for winter. This makes it a natural checkpoint for beekeepers to complete their harvests and for the public to reflect on the season's work.

 

The Deep History of Honey

Honey's story extends far beyond the last century:

• Prehistoric origins: Cave paintings from the Middle Stone Age (roughly 10,000–8,000 BCE) depict early humans gathering honey from wild hives, and fossil evidence of honey has been traced back tens of millions of years.

• Ancient civilizations: Ancient Egyptians practiced early migratory beekeeping, floating hives along the Nile to pollinate crops as they traveled. Honey held religious significance as an offering to river gods.

• Roman and Greek use: Romans used honey as a wound treatment, and it was reportedly used to help embalm Alexander the Great.

• Archaeological finds: In 2012, archaeologists in the country of Georgia uncovered what is believed to be some of the world's oldest preserved honey, estimated at roughly 5,500 years old.

• Beekeeping (apiculture) as an organized practice dates back to at least 700 BCE, and honey has even served as a form of currency in parts of Europe.

 

Why Bees and Honey Matter

Honeybees are essential to global food production, not just honey itself:

• Bees are responsible for pollinating roughly one out of every three bites of food consumed worldwide.

• About one-third of the average American diet depends on insect-pollinated plants, and honeybees account for roughly 80% of that pollination work.

• Major crops that rely on honeybee pollination include almonds, apples, avocados, and blueberries, among many others.

• A single hive of bees may collectively fly as much as 55,000 miles and visit more than two million flowers to produce just one pound of honey.

• A single worker bee produces only about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime — it takes roughly 22,700 bees working together to fill one jar.

 

Colony Collapse Disorder

A serious challenge facing the industry is Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a phenomenon that has been linked to significant losses — in some cases up to 90% — of bee colonies for individual beekeepers. Awareness campaigns during National Honey Month often highlight the importance of protecting pollinator populations as a matter of both ecological and agricultural concern.

The Variety of Honey

Honey is far from a single, uniform product. The United States alone produces more than 300 unique varietals of honey, each shaped by the specific flowers and plants bees draw nectar from — including clover, buckwheat, wildflower, orange blossom, eucalyptus, and even avocado blossom honey. Each variety carries its own distinct color, flavor, and aroma.

 

Ways to Observe National Honey Month

Educators, families, and community groups can mark the month in a variety of ways:

• Taste and compare different honey varietals to explore how floral source affects flavor and color.

• Visit or support a local beekeeper or honey producer, especially small and regional operations.

• Cook or bake with honey, using it as a natural sweetener and moisture-retaining ingredient.

• Learn about pollinator conservation and steps individuals can take to support bee populations (such as planting pollinator-friendly gardens and reducing pesticide use).

• Use classroom resources built around bees, beekeeping, and pollination for K–12 or adult education settings.

• Share awareness on social media using hashtags such as #NationalHoneyMonth to help spread appreciation for beekeepers and pollinators.

 

Additional Resources

• National Honey Board — Honey.com — the official industry organization behind National Honey Month, with recipes, honey variety guides, and a "Honey Locator" tool

• National Honey Board: Celebrating National Honey Month — background on the observance and its programs

• National Day Calendar: National Honey Month — quick facts and observance details

• American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture — classroom-ready facts and literature/lesson-plan resources for educators

• Sioux Honey Association Co-Op: 10 Facts About National Honey Month — beekeeping industry facts and pollinator conservation info

• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: September is National Honey Month — history of honey and food science background

• Days of the Year: National Honey Month — general overview and observance ideas

• Wikipedia: National Honey Month — quick-reference summary