Honeybee Conservation

Locally Owned Bee Farm Thrives in Freeport, Florida

Story courtesy of Walton County Tourism | Photography courtesy of Register Family Farm

The ancient practice of beekeeping is alive and well—even seeing a resurgence—in recent years thanks to awareness raised about the environmental importance of honeybee conservation. And a Northwest Florida family is making strides to grow together and educate the community while providing delicious and health-conscious products.

The renowned Register Family Farm beekeeping operation has been serving the local area and beyond with high-quality honey products since 2013. Located in Freeport, the farm operates about 1,500 colonies and is fully managed by members of the Register family. The veteran-owned and family-operated business is dedicated to sustainable beekeeping practices, ensuring the well-being of its bees and the production of pure, natural honey.

“It’s been pretty awesome being able to work with your family toward a common goal,” says founder and CEO Joseph Register. He and his wife, Elisabeth, both served in the U.S. Army. On combat deployments and operational assignments, they found themselves separated for long periods and realized they wanted to establish a tightly bonded family, start their own business, and create something meaningful for their loved ones.

“I went and listened to a beekeeper speak about honeybees and got interested,” says Register. “I convinced my brother Jeremiah and my father to help start our operation.” In just three years, the Registers had grown to approximately a thousand hives.

Register family members and friends at the honeybee farm

As their business venture progressed, so did their knowledge about producing quality bee-related products. They started creating lip balms, soaps, candles, and other beehive goods. Before anything is released to consumers, the Registers spend ample time on development and testing. “Nothing is cookie-cutter. Everything is unique, and we’re very big on having the best possible products,” says Register.

One of their most popular products is Tupelo honey, made from the nectar honeybees gather from White Tupelo trees. The Registers harvest their spring honey and move the hives to locations with high concentrations of White Tupelo, yielding the purest Tupelo honey possible.

According to Register, Tupelo honey is famous in the area, often produced in the waterways and swamps of the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee Rivers. “It’s very light and sweet. It doesn’t crystalize, as it’s lower on the glycemic index than most honey,” he says. The Registers’ rare Tupelo honey has a pear-like fragrance, a delicate green hue, and a burst of uniquely sweet flavor. These characteristics, combined with its limited supply, make it a sought-after delicacy, generally regarded as one of the best kinds of honey available.

“Most companies will source honey from farms, then put their brand on it and sell it. We’re unique because we actually harvest the honey ourselves and then make these products,” says Register. “We don’t outsource them. We make all the lip balms and lotion bars; they’re my recipes.”

Stay tuned to see what they’ll come up with next!

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For more information about the Register Family Farm and where you can find their products, visit RegisterFamilyFarm.com.