Sweet Support – Turning Honey into Hope

From hive to heartland, Sioux Honey and Fareway Stores donated thousands of bottles of honey to help fight food insecurity in Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 11, 2025 — If you stacked every bottle of honey the Sioux Honey Co-op and Fareway Stores donated on Sept. 10, the 2,916-foot tower of golden honey would:

• Surpass two Empire State Buildings (1,454 feet each, with antenna),
• Top four-and-a-half Principal Buildings (630 feet each) in Des Moines, and
• Even exceed the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which stands 2,717 feet tall.

The donation consisted of three pallets — 540 cases, or 6,480 bottles — of Sue Bee® honey. It was part of Sioux Honey Co-op’s ongoing “Share Sweetness” campaign and arrived during National Honey Month, when the National Honey Association highlights honey’s nutrition, versatility and long shelf life.

This community effort between Sioux Honey (supported by more than 175 beekeeper families across the U.S.) and Fareway Stores (142 locations across the Midwest) provided a meaningful boost to hunger-relief efforts in Iowa.

“Fareway is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sioux Honey and the Food Bank of Iowa and the partners it serves, like the Johnston Partnership,” said Elias Johnson, vice president, corporate outreach & communications at Fareway Stores. “Our customers count on us to keep families fed and to support neighbors in need, and this partnership took that commitment to another level.”

Aimee Sandman, director of marketing at Sioux Honey, noted that the co-op’s roots are in cooperation: “Our co-op was founded by beekeepers who believed in working together to make a bigger impact. Today, that spirit lives on in campaigns like ‘Share Sweetness,’ where every bottle represents the hard work of beekeeper families and the generosity of our partners.”

Earlier this year, Sioux Honey’s Sue Bee® and Aunt Sue’s® became the first honey brands to earn the U.S. Farmed™ certification, underscoring the co-op’s commitment to supporting domestic farming and sustainable practices. The Share Sweetness campaign ensures Iowa families benefit directly from the work of America’s beekeepers.

Serving those who need it most

The Des Moines-based Food Bank of Iowa serves 55 counties and distributes millions of meals annually. “Honey is all-natural, contains important minerals and amino acids, and adds flavor to many foods,” said Annette Hacker, chief communications and strategy officer at Food Bank of Iowa. “On behalf of our partners and the Iowans we serve, we appreciate this sweet and special addition to our inventory.”

After-school programs

Along with the donation to the Food Bank of Iowa, the Johnston Partnership received an activity kit from Sioux Honey for children in its after-school and weekend programs. The kit included handouts about honey and honeybees and a hands-on demonstration about pollination.

Andrea Cook, executive director of the Johnston Partnership, said the gift provided both nourishment and education: “For children facing food insecurity, receiving honey is more than a sweet treat – it’s nourishment and a natural food with only one ingredient. And learning where their food comes from, how pollination works and why bees matter is a great opportunity to help fill their plates and expand their minds.” The Johnston Partnership mentors students through its JUMP program and provides more than 250 kids with meals each weekend during the school year.

Sweet stats at a glance

• 6,480 bottles donated (three pallets; 540 cases of Sue Bee® honey).
• Enough honey to drizzle on nearly 100,000 pancakes.
• Honey requires no refrigeration, has a long shelf life and is versatile in cooking and beverages.
• More than 175 beekeeper families are members of the Sioux Honey Co-op.
• Sioux Honey beekeepers harvest about 25–30 million pounds of honey each year (nearly one-fourth of the U.S. commercial beekeeper honey total).

Download event assets: https://tinyurl.com/HoneyDonationRelease

About Sioux Honey Co-op

Founded in 1921 near Sioux City, Iowa, the Sioux Honey Co-op began with five beekeepers who shared equipment, marketing and processing facilities. Today the co-op has grown to more than 200 beekeepers nationwide. Sioux Honey’s Sue Bee® and Aunt Sue’s® are the first honey brands to earn the U.S. Farmed™ certification, reflecting the co-op’s commitment to domestic farming and sustainable practices.

About Fareway Stores

Fareway Stores, Inc. is a growing Midwest grocery company operating more than 140 stores. Fareway’s mission is to provide high-quality products while treating customers like family. Fareway is family-owned and employs more than 13,000 people.

About Food Bank of Iowa

Established in 1982, Food Bank of Iowa provides nutritious food for Iowa children, families, seniors and veterans. Serving 55 of Iowa’s 99 counties, the Food Bank delivers more than 27.3 million pounds of food (22.7 million meals) to 700 partner agencies annually.

SOURCE: Sioux Honey