WEWAHITCHKA — Van Morrison sang about its sweetness. Now, a state senator wants to offer a lasting tribute to Tupelo honey.
Senate Agriculture Chairman Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, proposed a bill (SB 556) on Thursday that would designate Tupelo honey as the “official Florida state honey.”
The sweet substance is produced in Northwest Florida and has its own festival in Wewahitchka, which is in Montford’s district. The senator could not be reached for comment about his bill, but at least one Tupelo honey expert in Wewahitchka liked the proposal.
“I think it’s a cool idea,” said Louise Bryant, who works at L.L. Lanier and Son’s Tupelo Honey in Wewahitchka.
L.L. Lanier harvests and sells the honey. Bryant said Florida is the only place that harvests Tupelo honey. The good thing about the honey, according to Bryant, is that it has its own unique flavor and doesn’t crystallize, which means Tupelo honey doesn’t turn to sugar like some honeys do.
Connie Parrish, Wewahitchka city clerk, works behind the scenes on the town’s annual Tupelo Honey Festival, which this year will be May 16. The festival is good for the local community, she said, noting last year saw 3,000 people and 100 vendors at the festival.
“The flavor’s not bad,” Parrish said.