We're often asked what makes our honey special. And we have a long list of answers—it's pure, raw, unfiltered, undiluted, unblended, never processed or pasteurized—each of which contributes to the quality and flavor of our honey in a host of complex ways.
But the most important answer is actually the simplest: It's all about the bees.
As third-generation beekeepers, we know that the best honey comes from happy, healthy bees. Most honey brands buy their products in bulk from outside suppliers, without ever seeing the bees that created it. At Chico Honey Company, we harvest our honey from our own hives, an event that happens only once or twice a year. The rest of the time is spent caring for our bees, ensuring that they have everything they need to thrive—from abundant sources of nectar and pollen to fresh, clean water to protection from both pests and pesticides.
So, before a single drop is harvested, we've already put countless hours, extraordinary care and three generations of beekeeping knowledge into our product. That's what truly sets Chico Honey apart from every other jar on the shelf.
Our grandfather began tending bees in 1965, learning from the pioneers of the trade in Northern California. He passed his knowledge down to his son Ray Jr., who built a thriving business raising queens and package bees for beekeepers and honey producers across the country.
We grew up in the family business, building bee boxes, maintaining hives and driving bee trucks in the almond orchards as soon as we could see over the dashboard and reach the pedals. We followed our dad out to the yards as he cared for the bees, and we learned firsthand how important it is to keep them happy and healthy.
Though our parents' business was all about the bees, when you raise honeybees, honey comes with the territory. One of our jobs as kids was to fill jars, and year after year, we saw that well-cared-for bees made not only more honey but better honey.
Chico Honey Company grew out of that experience. We care for our own bees, and we still fill every jar ourselves, so we know that the honey we produce is the best it can possibly be. Our father taught us that, just as his father taught him. We can't imagine doing things any other way.
—Ryan, Josh and Haley Olivarez