Sweet Discoveries: Where To Find Local Honey

Here in Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory, our diverse landscape of wildflowers, berry farms, lavender fields and orchards creates the perfect environment for exceptional honey production. With the delicate floral notes of lavender honey, the rich depth of blueberry honey and the classic taste of wildflower varieties, Clackamas County's local beekeepers are creating something truly special. Here's what you should know when it's time to bring home a jar of sweetness and support sustainable agriculture.

Local honey is more than just a sweetener — it's a taste of place. Bees forage on the native plants and crops that make Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory unique, from spring cherry blossoms to summer lavender and late-season blackberries.

Many people also turn to local honey for its potential health benefits, including allergy relief. Beyond that, raw, unfiltered honey retains beneficial enzymes, antioxidants and nutrients that can be lost in commercial processing.

Tucked away in the historic Oak Grove area, Raw Oregon Honey is a dedicated community staple run right from the source. They specialize in ultra-local micro-batches harvested from across the county's distinct river valleys and foothills. Their signature Clackamas River Honey captures a complex flavor profile unique to our local canopy, blending wild nectars from big leaf maple, white oak, snowberry and wild blackberry.

Visitors can easily drop by their hyper-local porch honor honey stand in Oak Grove, which is open daily from 7am to 7pm, to pick up fresh jars. They also supply local nurseries and farm stands across the region, including the Lake Oswego Farmers Market and Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, making it an incredibly accessible, community-first stop on your local honey hunt. 

Willamette Valley Lavender has an on-site apiary.

Nestled in the rural farming community of Canby, Willamette Valley Lavender is a beautiful 10.5-acre destination where agriculture meets artisan craftsmanship. During their peak summer bloom weekends, this family-owned farm opens its gates to the public, inviting visitors to wander through fragrant fields of hand-harvested English and French lavender.

Because the farm maintains its own dedicated apiary (a location where beehives of honeybees are kept) right in the middle of these blooming fields, their raw honey carries a naturally delicate, aromatic floral essence that tastes like summer in a jar. Visitors can buy their limited-supply raw lavender honey online, directly from the farm during open-house events, via scheduled local farm pickup, or at regional farmers markets like the Lake Oswego Farmers' Market.

For a true taste of Oregon's berry country, head out to South Barlow Berries in Canby. This beloved family-run agritourism destination specializes in over 10 varieties of berries, ranging from classic strawberries and raspberries to unique tayberries and marionberries. To keep their extensive fruit fields thriving, the farm hosts active honeybee colonies directly on the property.

What makes this producer stand out is their commitment to the health of their bees and the quality of their honey. Like many small-scale beekeepers in our region, they understand that happy, healthy bees make the best honey. At their public farm stand, you can pick up fresh, pre-picked berries or head out into the u-pick fields, then grab a jar of their pure, raw estate honey harvested right from those on-site hives alongside their homemade seasonal jams.

Beyond visiting the apiaries directly, you can find local Clackamas County honey at farmers markets throughout the region. Many of our local producers set up stands at seasonal markets where you can meet the beekeepers, sample different varieties and learn about their practices.