EditHoney
The biggest challenge in finding a local source of honey is that there are so many micro-scale producers. Small producers often can sell their entire stock to last years customers, so they don't have to advertise. Most honey producers are very, very small and some apiaries are in business to help farmers pollinate and not so much to make honey.
Some honey producers discourage farm visits on account of concerns about visitors bringing diseases that could affect the bees.
Honey is a seasonal product and is available depending on blooming of flowers.
Where does honey usually come from? North Dakota, California, Florida, South Dakota and Montana are the top producing states
The top honey producing counties in VA are Clarke, Rockingham, Henry, Loudoun, and Augusta. Source
Crop Profile for Honey in VirginiaEditVarieties Impossible to Find Locally Produced
Tupello and orange blossom is not produced local to the DC region because water tupello trees are only from areas like Mississipi and other swampy deep south states. Organge blossom honey of course only comes from places with orange trees, like Florida. The city that gets put on the jar of honey is the city where the honey is canned, per labeling laws.
It is safe to assume that buckwheat honey, clover, goldenrod, tulip poplar, wild flower, black locust, soybean *could* have been produced local to DC, buy you'll have to ask to know for sure.
EditMD Producers
Brey's Farm. 15707 Letcher Rd East, Brandywine, MD 20613. Sells at Baltimore City Market, does not ship direct to consumer.
Naked Bee MD producer, online mail order option.
Lord Byron Honey Farm. Sells exclusively online and through local retails stores, e.g. My Organic Market.
EditVA Producers
The Virginia Page at the National Honey' Boards Honey Locator
Watch out, some of those listed are honey dealers that sell in Virginia, but source their products from far away.
Hex Apiaries
Laszlo Pentek Box 101111
Arlington, VA 22210
Phone: (703) 725-3818
Sand Rudge and Son's Honey. Hanover, VA 93 miles from DC.
Honey ThingGunter's Honey Located in Berryville, sold at many ordinary grocery stores. They are a large processor that buys all over the country and fills the needs of Northern Virginia. They process more honey than what local producers would be able to provide. Source:
Gunter's Honey to Expand...Nova Bee Keepers Association (Professional and amateur beekeepers)
Washington Post article discussing local DC area honeyMonastery HoneyLavender Fields Farm Glenn Allen, Virginia. 2008 Price sighting: $18/16oz
EditHoney Directories
Virginia