Many Greenwood area residents turn to raw wildflower honey for natural allergy relief during spring and summer, and around Mother's Day, some physically head to Hunter's Honey Farm in nearby Martinsville for tours, honey tastings and gifts.
Business owner Tracy Hunter says their products can be shipped straight from the farm to local homes, because "our online store is always open for Greenwood neighbors."
Examples of online products include wildflower honey in 1-5 gallon pails; creamed and flavored honey; comb honey for cheese boards and snacks; beeswax candles, lip balm, lotions, bee pollen, propolis drops/jelly capsules, mead kits, honey sticks, raw honeycomb, honey sauces, dippers and honey gift boxes.
Hunter's Honey unique flavors are far-ranging: cinnamon, raspberry, maple, lavender, coffee, smoky hot, vanilla bean, jalapeño, caramel, English toffee, rose, pumpkin spice, cantaloupe blossom, Brazilian pepper, blackberry, cucumber blossom, huckleberry, sassafras, watermelon blossom, cranberry blossom, goldenrod blossom, locust blend and thistle blossom.
The online store also offers more novel honey- or wax-based items, such as furniture polish, ear candles, handcrafted soaps, tincture, pine cone fire starters, dog treats, glazed snack mixes, moisturizing cream, honey mustard pretzels, taffy, honey-roasted pecans, granola, honey fruit rollups, honey-filled candy, dessert sauce, tea lights, natural paw wax for animals, wildflower seeds, ornaments, candle rolling kits and deodorant sticks. Additionally, they have branded caps, shirts and stadium cup, along with various types of books and beginner beekeeping kits — even actual queen bees.
Tracy says they also offer bulk honey, private label options and custom gift sets for corporate gifting.
For those who'd prefer to shop for Hunter's Honey products at Greenwood retailers, they're available at:
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Country Nutrition: Full line of raw honey, pollen, propolis and wellness items.
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Fresh Thyme Market: Both raw and creamed honey jars.
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Rural King: Standard and bulk honey options.
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Huckaby’s Smokehouse Catering: Honey for pairing with meats and sides.
As the third-generation in his family to operate this business, Tracy says it's been a family-owned producer of honey and honey-related products in Indiana for 116 years.
Gilbert Perigo, born in 1890, discovered his passion for beekeeping while in high school in Boonville. When he caught his first bee swarm that shaped the future of Hunter’s Honey Farm. By 1910, Gilbert was managing multiple hives to pollinate his father’s apple orchard. He expanded his apiary to 800 hives while also working as a school teacher. In 1951, Gilbert became chief apiary inspector for Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Gilbert’s eldest daughter, Marian, inherited her father’s love for bees. She married Max Hunter and they settled in Mooresville. While working as an elementary school teacher, Marian also established a small apiary with 12 hives.
Marian and Max’s son, Tracy, developed a passion for beekeeping while helping his grandfather, Gilbert, harvest and extract honey, which they sold in local stores, orchards and even from their front porch. In June 1975, while a high school sophomore, Tracy hived his first swarm under his grandfather’s guidance. After graduating from Purdue University, Tracy married Christina Ramsay, and together they expanded their beekeeping operation to 1,400 hives, making it one of Indiana’s leading honey producers.
Current Hunter's Honey Farm tours span the honey barn, hayrides, beehives, bottling honey, rolling beeswax candles, forestry hikes and FFA sessions.
765.537.9430
HuntersHoneyFarm.com