September is National Honey Month. It’s an annual tribute to beekeeping in the United States established in 1989 by the National Honey Board of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). During this month most beekeepers will be harvesting, extracting, and bottling their honey. As nectar flows wane, the honeybees will soon retire from honey production until next spring and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Honey is their food and they produce more honey than they need to survive the winter. It is good practice for beekeepers not to deplete the hives of honey but harvest a little from each hive so honeybees and humans can both share the sweetness.
Many cultures eat honey and it’s most significant in September for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year”. It is celebrated with a feast that symbolizes the tradition of renewal and atonement. An emphasis on sweetness abounds for the New Year as a traditional fare includes a sweet carrot stew called tzimmes, pomegranates representing commandments to keep, apples dipped in honey, and round challah bread is served to symbolize the circle of life.
Enjoy this healthy and refreshing recipe.
Honey Fruit Salad
- 1 apple
- 1 banana
- 1 pint strawberries
- 1 cup cantaloupe
- 1 cup watermelon
- 1 cup blueberries
- ½ cup pomegranate
- ½ lime
- 2 tablespoon orange blossom honey
In a large salad bowl, cut all fruit into bite size pieces. Squeeze lime juice over the fruit. Drizzle honey and gently mix with salad spoons
Greetings for a sweet New Year “L’Shana Tova!”
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