Sioux Honey donates record amount of honey to Arkansas food bank

LOWELL — It’s enough honey to spread across 10 basketball courts, and thanks to a record donation today at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, that honey will be immediately distributed to residents suffering from food insecurity, a hardship that can be especially difficult during winter months.
“It’s a new year, but the needs are the same for those in need,” said Kevin Hueser, President and CEO at Sioux City, Iowa-based Sioux Honey Co-op, which donated 6,480, 12-ounce bottles of SUE BEE® honey to the food bank. “Our 175-plus beekeeper owners at Sioux Honey have a shared New Year’s resolution this year, which is to donate even more honey and ‘Share Sweetness’ more than ever before in 2025.”
And that’s exactly what Sioux Honey beekeepers did today when they made the largest single donation of honey to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. Honey – along with items like canned vegetables, fruits, and proteins, are prized at food banks. For people who are struggling with food insecurity, having access to shelf-stable items like honey is extremely helpful. Additionally, long shelf life and versatility make honey an especially ideal item for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Donation partnership
“Honey is one of the most versatile foods we have, and it comes with a seemingly endless shelf life,” said Sarah Thacker, Director of Advertising & Communications at Harps Food Stores, Arkansas’ largest employee-owned company. Harps partnered with Sioux Honey for this January honey donation effort.

“You don’t have to keep honey refrigerated, it’s known to soothe sore throats and tame coughs, and it’s delicious on a variety of foods and in drinks for a sweet taste.”
Indeed, honey is a superfood that lasts a long time. How long? They found a jar of honey in King Tut’s golden tomb that was still edible after 3,000 years. Of course, the honey donated today won’t be on the shelf very long at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.
“Honey moves extremely fast from our distribution warehouse – it’s a popular, in-demand item,” said Julie Damer, Director of Marketing at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, which supplies food to 110+ member agencies.
“This honey will be distributed to neighbors in need as well as help stock our 19 Mobile Pantry Program locations and School Pantry locations.”
Added Sioux Honey’s Hueser: “We’re going to keep donating as much honey as we can in 2025 to local food pantries and food banks in communities in and around where our beekeepers and their families live. And we’ll keep trying to sweeten lives, one bottle of SUE BEE® at a time.”