Where do nates get their honey? A deep dive into Nature Nate's sourcing

As of early 2022, Nature Nate's was reported to hold a leading 10% share of the branded retail honey market in the U.S., making their sourcing practices a topic of significant consumer interest. For those asking, "Where do nates get their honey?", the answer depends on the specific type of honey, with the company sourcing from a network of trusted beekeepers across the United States and the world.

Quick Summary

This article details the sourcing and quality standards of Nature Nate's honey. It explores the different honey varieties, including classic, local, organic, and Manuka, explaining their geographical origins and beekeeping partnerships.

Key Points

• Diverse Sourcing: Nature Nate's acquires honey from a network of beekeepers both within the U.S. and internationally to create its product lines.

• Product-Specific Origins: The sourcing location depends on the honey variety, with organic honey coming from international partners and Manuka exclusively from New Zealand.

• Local and Blended Options: The company offers local regional blends from U.S. states like Texas and Florida, as well as a Classic blend combining U.S. and international honeys.

• Raw and Unfiltered: All Nature Nate's honey is raw and unfiltered, meaning it is gently warmed and strained, but never overheated or highly filtered.

• Extensive Purity Testing: Each batch of honey undergoes rigorous third-party testing to ensure it is 100% pure and free of adulteration, antibiotics, and pesticides.

Nature Nate's: Not Your Average Honey Company

The query "where do nates get their honey?" often refers to Nature Nate's Honey Co., a prominent brand known for its 100% pure, raw, and unfiltered honey. Far from a single source, the company operates a complex and robust sourcing network to meet its production demands while upholding strict quality standards. Their honey comes from a blend of domestic and international sources, carefully selected to create their distinct flavor profiles and offer various product lines.

The company, founded by Nathan Sheets, has grown from a small beekeeping hobby into a national brand, emphasizing a "hive-to-table" philosophy. This commitment means partnering with passionate beekeepers and implementing rigorous testing to ensure purity and quality. The sourcing strategy is transparently outlined by the company, explaining the origins of each honey type offered to consumers.

The Sourcing Strategy: By the Product

Nature Nate's categorizes its honey sourcing based on the product line, allowing consumers to make informed choices based on their preferences for origin and flavor. The company's different honey offerings have distinct sourcing locations:

Classic Honey: A Beloved Blend

The classic Nature Nate's honey is a blend of high-quality U.S. and international varietals. This approach allows for a consistent, award-winning flavor profile that combines the characteristics of different honeys. The blending process is a significant part of the company's craft, with varietals including clover, canola, wildflower, and tallow honey. This practice ensures a consistent taste year-round, despite the natural variations that occur in honey from different seasons and floral sources.

Organic Honey: International Partnerships

For its organic honey, Nature Nate's partners exclusively with international beekeepers. This is because the USDA will not certify honey sourced from the continental U.S. as organic, due to the difficulty of ensuring bees do not forage on non-organic crops. Key sourcing locations for Nature Nate's organic honey include Brazil. The company maintains the same high quality and purity standards for its organic line as it does for its other products, testing each batch for common adulterants and contaminants.

Local Honey: A Taste of the Regions

For those who prefer locally sourced products, Nature Nate's offers several regional honey blends. These are crafted with honey harvested from specific areas by Nate's Hives and a network of trusted local beekeepers. The company has identified regions with ample high-quality honey that meet its standards. Specific blends mentioned on their website and product listings include:

• California Honey: Sourced 100% from California.
• Florida Honey: Sourced 100% from Florida.
• Texas Honey: Primarily sourced from Texas, with other U.S. floral sources added to enhance the flavor.
• Georgia and Louisiana Blends: Combine honey from these states with other U.S. floral sources.

Manuka Honey: The Unique New Zealand Source

Nature Nate's Manuka honey is sourced and bottled exclusively in New Zealand. This is the only location for authentic manuka honey, which is renowned for its unique health properties. The honey is mono-floral, meaning it comes from the nectar of a single type of flower—the manuka plant. The product is independently tested and certified for its MGO (methylglyoxal) levels and authenticity through the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA).

Quality and Purity: The Nature Nate's Difference

Beyond sourcing, a significant part of the Nature Nate's story is their dedication to quality control. The company's process ensures that the honey remains as natural as possible, without high-heat pasteurization or excessive filtering that can strip away beneficial components like pollen.

1. Gently Warmed: The honey is warmed just enough to make it pourable, without exposing it to high temperatures that would degrade natural enzymes and beneficial properties.
2. Strained, Not Filtered: A light straining process removes larger debris like wax and bee parts, while preserving the beneficial pollens and other natural compounds.
3. Extensive Testing: Every bottle undergoes rigorous internal and third-party testing to confirm purity, ensuring it is free from common contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and corn syrup adulteration. This commitment to testing and transparency helps build consumer trust.

Comparison of Nature Nate's Honey Varieties

Feature	Classic Honey Blend	Organic Honey	Manuka Honey	Local Honey
Primary Source	Blended U.S. and international sources	International partners (e.g., Brazil)	New Zealand	Local U.S. regions (e.g., Texas, Florida)
Key Characteristic	Consistent, award-winning flavor profile	USDA organic certification	UMF-certified for potency, from manuka plant	Honey harvested primarily from specific regions
Processing	Raw and unfiltered; gently warmed and strained	Raw and unfiltered; gently warmed and strained	Raw and unfiltered	Raw and unfiltered
Purity Guarantee	Rigorously tested for purity and adulteration	Certified to meet USDA organic and Nature Nate's standards	Independently certified by UMFHA for authenticity and potency	Tested to ensure high pollen count and purity from local regions

Conclusion

When asking "where do nates get their honey?", the answer is a testament to a modern honey brand's complex sourcing and quality assurance. Nature Nate's has evolved into a major player in the honey industry by strategically sourcing honey from diverse geographical regions to meet specific product requirements, whether for a consistent blend, organic certification, regional flavor, or the unique properties of manuka honey. By maintaining its commitment to a raw and unfiltered process and a robust testing program, the company provides a range of products that cater to consumer preferences for origin and flavor while ensuring a high standard of purity and quality. This multifaceted approach, detailed on their website, provides transparency for consumers seeking to understand their food's origins.

For more details on Nature Nate's commitment to quality and their raw honey process, see their page on raw and unfiltered honey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nature Nate's honey come from a single location?

No, Nature Nate's honey comes from multiple sources depending on the product. Their Classic blend is a mix of U.S. and international honey, while Manuka honey is exclusively from New Zealand and organic honey is sourced from international partners.

What is the source of Nature Nate's organic honey?

Nature Nate's organic honey is sourced from international beekeeper partners, primarily from regions like Brazil, because U.S. honey cannot be certified as USDA organic.

Is Nature Nate's honey pasteurized?

No, Nature Nate's honey is raw and unfiltered. It is gently warmed to make it pourable, not heated to high temperatures like pasteurized honey, which can destroy natural enzymes.

How does Nature Nate's ensure their honey is pure?

The company has a 'Purity Guarantee' that involves comprehensive internal and third-party testing to ensure every bottle is 100% pure, free of common contaminants, and that no corn or rice syrups have been added.

Where does Nature Nate's Texas honey come from?

Nature Nate's Texas honey is primarily sourced from trusted beekeepers within Texas. It is blended with other U.S. floral sources to create its distinct regional flavor.

What is the difference between strained and filtered honey?

Strained honey, like Nature Nate's, is lightly processed to remove larger particles like bee parts and wax while retaining beneficial pollen. Filtered honey is heated and processed to remove most or all pollen.

Why is the packaging for Nature Nate's Manuka honey important?

Nature Nate's Manuka honey is UMF-certified, meaning it is independently tested for potency, authenticity, and purity, ensuring it is genuine Manuka sourced exclusively from New Zealand.