For this week's Shop Small Saturday Showcase, I have a tasty feature to share with you! When my friend and I visited last year's Unique L.A., we couldn't help but notice the crowd forming around Massey Honey to sample their delicious honey! I adored their pretty packaging as well, and after tasting a few of the varieties, we were hooked.
For all you Southern California locals, they will be at Unique L.A. today and tomorrow, so head there to check them out! For you non-locals, check out their lovely feature below and enter to win this week's giveaway. You get to choose between their orange blossom or wildflower honeys, and Ryan and Jessica told me that each variety has been just recently extracted this spring and very tasty! Yum!
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Tell me a little bit about yourself!
I am a veterinarian with a background in public health and food safety. I came across beekeeping while in college (an entomology class in snuck into) and fell in love with the complexities of bees. Once I finished veterinary school, I got my first bee hive and it grew from there.
Where did the name of your store come from?
We are a family-owned company and Massey is a family name. We are related to the gourmet vanilla company with a similar name- "Nielson-Massey" Vanilla.
Why did you start making goods for Massey Honey?
I originally did not plan on beekeeping with the dream of starting a company. I got one beehive as a hobby. Word spread that I was an amateur beekeeping and people would call me to try to rescue their hives. I eventually began to rescue and relocate the hives and now have close to 100 located throughout Southern California. With time, I was able to responsibly manage the hives and produce a quality honey. The rest is history.
What is your favorite item?
Wildlfower honey local to Southern California. The urban sprawl of LA allows for a year round supply of nectar and pollen and with our mediterraean climate, the bees produce a sweet/buttery honey. This honey goes well with just about everything. Some of my favorite pairing include honey with parmesan cheese, honey with figs, or as a component to a vinegarette salad dressing.
What is your most popular item?
Our wildlfower and almond blossom honies are the most popular.
Where do you get the inspiration for your work?
From the bees! A beehive is very complex and it is amazing each time I check a hives to see nature in action.
What makes your store unique?
We are completely vertically integrated. From the rescuing of our hives, to the management of our bees, to the extracting and bottling we do by hand, to the self-distribution we do with retailers who's businesses we support and trust.
Where can I see more of your work and buy a gift?
Our honey can be purchased on our website or on online marketplaces such as Good eggs and Amazon Fresh. We are also carried throughout many gourmet markets and specialty shops in LA (see our website for a list).
Website: www.masseyhoney.com
Blog: www.masseyhoney.com/blog
Facebook: masseyhoneycompany
Twitter: @masseyhoneyco
Instagram: @masseyhoneyco
Pinterest: @masseyhoneyco
Are you going to be at any shows soon, so I can see your work in person and say hello?
Of course! We will be at Unique LA this weekend (5/9 - 5/10) in Downtown LA. Currently we have freshly extracted spring orange blossom, wildflower, and a new variety for the first time - eucalyptus honey. We also have blackberry, alfalfa, and avocado in stock.
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Simply beautiful honey, right? I cannot wait to try out the eucalyptus variety this weekend at Unique L.A. and grab a couple of jars myself! Are you all ready to win your choice of a medium jar of orange blossom or wildflower honey? As always, enter using the widget below, and...
Good luck!
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