Dell City Honey Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Local Beekeeper Receives Grant Money

August 21, 2014 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

David Jastram and Dell City Honey recently received grant money from The Pollination Project on July 26th as part of their Daily Giving 2014 campaign. Jastram told the Pollination Project, “With the continuing loss of habitat, the bees are in serious decline. I keep bees as a hobby, and have discovered a large amount of interest from rural land owners who would like to have bees on their property, but are fearful of them, so they are looking to others to place hives for them. That’s where I can help.”

Funds received will provide lumber for Jastram to build 20 beehives and place them around rural South Dakota to support the honeybee population.The Pollination Project awards $1,000 start-up grants to individuals and projects that promote compassion around the world. The Pollination Project’s Daily Giving Community is a team of 40+ people who help provide the $1000 grants every day. More information about The Pollination Project can be found at their website, http://thepollinationproject.org/.

More information about Dell City Honey can be found on their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/DellCityHoney.

September is Honey Month in South Dakota – Dell City Honey

September 16, 2013 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has proclaimed September as Honey Month in South Dakota. South Dakota ranks in the top five honey producing states. Last year, 17 million pounds of honey were produced in South Dakota with a value of $33 million. Dell Rapids has it’s own beekeepers that produce and sell honey, Dell City Honey. This year will be their third year in business.

Beekeeper David Jastram explained the process of how they make their honey. He said that he bees collect the nectar and convert it into honey for storage in the winter. After the moisture content is at a certain level, they are able to harvest the honey. They will cut the wax cells open with a knife and use a stainless steel extractor to pull the honey out of the cells of the honeycomb. After they have collected the honey, they will lightly strain it, and Jastram said that no heat is applied to the honey at all.

Jastram said, “The only reason that this is not called ‘organic’ honey is because there is no promise that while the bees are collecting nectar they don’t get into any pesticides or other chemicals. But this is as natural as honey can be.”

Jastram also said, “It’s important for people to identify where their honey comes from. There are lots of Chinese and South American honey imports. There is also ‘funny honey’ which is made with high fructose corn syrup. Our honey is 100% South Dakota honey.”

To purchase honey from Dell City Honey, visit their facebook page by clicking here.