Mardis Honey Farm offers local honey and more in stores and farmers markets all around north Mississippi.
Recipe by Sarah Godwin | Photographed by Joe Worthem
People around the world have been harvesting honey since ancient times. Today, it’s touted for its health benefits and is a popular natural sweetener. In north Mississippi, Mardis Honey Farm harvests, bottles and sells raw honey along with several other unique products that use honey as a primary ingredient.
“The number of hives and bees we have varies from year to year, but we filtered and bottled over 10,000 pounds of honey last year,” said Bekah Chapman, who heads up Mardis Honey Farm. “We also source honey from other local Mississippi beekeepers, who may not have the certifications and bottling facility required to sell on a large scale. We love being able to support other Mississippi producers while continuing to offer our customers the same amazing honey they know and love.”
Mardis honey is a key ingredient in this very versatile dressing that goes with almost any salad.
Honey Vinaigrette
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup honey
1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
In a small bowl or Mason jar, whisk or shake all ingredients together, and serve with your favorite green salad.
From the Farmer:
This month’s In Season features local honey from Mardis Honey Farm. Bekah Chapman, who has been running the business for a couple of years, shares more.
Q: Tell us about Mardis Honey Farm.
A: The business itself has been around for more than a decade. It was started by Mr. and Mrs. Larry and Joanne Mardis, and I’m so proud to be able to continue to offer the same high quality raw honey and excellent customer service that they built their business on.
Q: Raw honey is just one product you sell. What else do you make with your honey?
A: We make homemade quinoa granola, sweetened with our own honey, of course. We also started making flavored creamed honey, and that's been really popular and also super fun to make! Experimenting with fun flavor combinations is definitely my favorite part of the job. Last year we offered chocolate, blueberry, vanilla bean chai and cinnamon flavored creamed honey, and I would say the blueberry became an instant sensation. This past winter, we started making a beeswax wonder balm that I really love. It’s kind of an all-purpose moisturizing balm with all natural ingredients, and not only do I love making it but I use it every single day.
Q: What makes local honey special?
A: Honey has been used for thousands of years to heal all sorts of ailments — there’s no denying that honey is one of nature’s miracles, and I think that being able to buy honey produced in Mississippi makes it even more special. When we have the opportunity to buy food that is produced locally, to connect with the people that grow our food and the land on which it was produced, it connects us to our community and to each other. I feel very lucky to be a part of the local food community in Mississippi.
Mardis honey is sold in Oxford at Kroger, Larson’s Cash Saver and Chicory Market; at the local Cash Saver Water Valley; at Piggly Wiggly and Kroger in Batesville; and at Kroger in Tupelo. Other Mardis Honey Farm products like creamed honey, granola and beeswax balms are sold only at farmers markets, including Oxford Community Market and Midtown Farmers Market in Oxford.
Find the Farmer:
(662) 336-BZZZ (2999)
Facebook and Instagram
@mardishoneyfarm
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