Adam Arp and his bees travel all over the Northland to produce Sweet Sting Honey.
Growing up and working alongside his father’s accomplished 30-plus-year business, Mountain Top Honey, Arp’s beehives are transported from one site to another depending on several factors.
“I start the hives in lower elevations and move to higher altitudes to follow different blooms,” said Arp. “It’s all contingent on the time of year, weather and precipitation. This year was good in Flagstaff because of the amount of rainfall we received.”
Leaving his career as a civil engineer 12 years ago, Arp embarked on his brand of Sweet Sting Honey because he wanted to specialize in raw specialty honey. “It was also an opportunity for me to continue and build upon my dad’s business. He’s the only commercial honey business in Flagstaff.”
Arp said he began selling his honey at the Flagstaff Community Market, Farmers Market, and Flagstaff Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and now attends various festivals and events.
“People love their honey. It’s a great product and very popular,” said Flagstaff CSA Director, Genevieve Perkins.
Several stores carry Sweet Sting Honey and customers are happy. “We offer samples of all the honey brands we sell and Sweet Sting Honey is the most favored,” said Old Barrel Tea Company (OBTC) Manager Eleanor Krueger. “We carry Sweet Sting Honey’s raw honey and rotate the different varieties. My favorite is Camelthorn honey. It’s super creamy and very light.”
Camelthorn honey is produced in Winslow in June and July and is the most sought-after flavor. Flagstaff Wildflower is produced in late summer and fall.
Managing about 210 hives this year, Arp says he yielded close to 15,000 pounds of honey. “We push an average of about 75 pounds of honey per hive,” said Arp. Mormon Lake, Belmont, Doney Park and Cordes Junction are other areas where Arp keeps his hives in a healthy and comfortable environment.
“Three years ago, we built a new facility in Mountainaire to keep up with production,” said Arp. “This is where we extract the honey, bottle and store it, the whole process.”
The attributes of honey far outweigh the sweetening properties. Honey is the sweetest food found in nature and has a long history of use as medicine.
“According to studies published in the Journal of Medicinal Food and the European Journal Of Medicine, honey in its raw form can lower cholesterol, raise antioxidant levels in the blood, reduce elevated blood pressure levels, increase nitrate excretion from the body, balance blood sugar in diabetes and even serve as a topical formula for diaper rash and other skin conditions,” said Sedona Natural Grocers Nutritional Health Coach Nicolette Severa.
The modern term for beekeeping is apiculture, but the practice is ancient. Arp says the placement of the beehives is imperative and hives must be inspected regularly.
Sweet Sting Honey flavors also include Desert Wildflower, Flagstaff Wildflower, Orange Blossom, Mesquite and Clover.
“Business has been going really well for me,” said Arp. “My main goal is to keep the bees healthy, alive and maintain their population by moving them around and keeping them in good foraging conditions.”
Along with OBTC and Flagstaff CSA, Sweet Sting Honey can be found locally at The Golden Hive, Steep Leaf Lounge and other specialty stores around Arizona.
“My wife, Monique, owns Shear Bella Salon and she carries our honey, probably the only salon in town that does,” he said.
Outside of his beekeeping, Arp loves spending time with his two boys. “We hike, fish, boat and play soccer and football.”
To contact Sweet Sting Honey, call 928-606-1415, email at sweetstinghoney@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.
Favorite Movie
My favorite movie is still Top Gun.
I’m Influenced By
It would have to be my dad, Dennis Arp. Growing up around the business and seeing his hard work ethic and how that transfers – the whole beekeeping business and the unseen work it takes to get the honey in the jar and his knowledge of a lot of different skills. I strive to be the same as a father and business owner.
Guilty Pleasure
Going fishing, on hunting trips or on hiking trips and boating at Lake Powell. Seems like there’s always work to do but it’s good to take a break and get out and experience nature. It does help productivity later.
Latest Hobby
I just started to learn archery and hope to learn to do it well. It’s very challenging but I like it.
The Movie About Me Will Star
Chuck Liddell. He’s a mixed martial artist and former light heavyweight champion fighter. I look a bit like him. FBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
