The Tropical Blossom Honey Co. began in 1937, when David and Helen McGinnis moved from the mountains of West Virginia to the coast of Central Florida. Living with David’s uncle in a backwoods cabin with no running water or electricity, David learned beekeeping in order to increase pollination in the family’s citrus groves and to provide a little honey for their table. The beehives thrived in Florida’s subtropical climate; soon there was enough surplus that Helen started bottling the golden harvest, and the couple sold the jars to tourist outlets in nearby Daytona Beach.
Sixty-nine years later, Tropical Blossom is still packing Florida’s finest honey, now to customers around the globe. Sons David and Douglas and daughter Patricia continue the family business. As well as orange blossom honey, the company packs rare Tupelo honey from Northwest Florida, saw palmetto and wildflower honey from Florida’s vast piney woods and Everglades, and pure raw honeycomb, cut directly from the hive.
“We know each and every one of the beekeepers who supply us honey,” said Douglas. “We can assure a quality product from hive to table.”
Tropical Blossom specializes in honey for gift-giving. Allied with the Florida citrus industry for decades, Tropical Blossom honey is often that jar of honey one receives in a basket of oranges from Florida.
Several small unique jars are available for packing in gift assortments. New gift ideas include Florida Honey
Samplers, which include three small jars of Florida honeys and a wooden honey dipper; and the Ceramic Beehive. Pitcher gift crate, which includes a beautiful, exclusive honey pot with a jar of orange blossom honey.
Two years ago, Tropical Blossom sought OU certification. “Since we sell our premium Florida honey all over the world, we sought certification with the OU since it is universally recognized,” said Douglas. “Our family business was founded with attention and pride in the pure honey product we offer. OU certification is one of the main ways we communicate that message.”