sustainable sweetness

there are many good reasons for supporting small food producers but, up until now, craving something yummy from a faraway land was definitely a guilty indulgence once you factored in the environmental costs of getting it from here to there. carbon offsets are one way to reduce a product's footprint and royal hawaiian honey recently became the first u.s. made food to earn a carbon-free certification.

it's a family owned business from the honey making operation on the big island (better known as hawaiian queen co.) to the distribution end on the mainland. a product life cycle analysis of the honey tallied up everything from the fuel to power the trucks to check on the hives to the production and transport of the glass jar packaging. royal hawaiian honey then offsets the total by purchasing carbon credits which invest in renewable energy (think solar and wind power).

three varietals of the raw unfiltered honey (the first two are certified organic) are currently in production - christmas berry, hawaiian lehua, and macadamia nut blossom.

take a peek at the stockist list to find an island purveyor (california readers can grab a jar at their local whole foods).

{via susHI}