Sweet Business for Glory Bee

By: Lori Smart | July 08 2010
Posted in Eugene - Grow It - Eugene

Sweet Business for Glory Bee

We’ve all squeezed a few plastic bears in our lifetime! Drizzling pure golden honey onto everything from toast to Pacific Northwest berries and yogurt makes life naturally sweeter. For Dick & Patty Turanski, their passion for healthy living led them to start selling honey and beekeeping supplies from their garage. (The bees were in the backyard, NOT the garage!) They’ve long since outgrown their garage, and over 35 years later, Glory Bee is still family owned and operated from their facility in Eugene, Oregon.

Photo: Glory Bee Foods

Nature’s Original Sweetener

Those humble beginnings grew into one of the largest assortments of honey anywhere. Including flavored, certified organic and raw honey choices, their line includes more than 28 different types of honey. Who knew there were so many? Their HoneyStix line has over 20 natural flavors, packaged in a portable straw, and they’re perfect to take along for adding to tea, coffee or anything you’d like to sweeten up.  

“Crunchy” Community

Eugene is an ideal location for a company like Glory Bee to thrive. Practically the epicenter of health food in the Pacific Northwest, Eugene is home to many natural food businesses. Glory Bee’s business practices are ahead of their time when it comes to green initiatives like recycling and repurposing, composting, free-trade partners, organics, and local suppliers. They’re one of many local businesses that utilize EWEB’s (Eugene Water & Electric Board) Greenpower.

Beyond The Honey – Natural Additions

Over the years, Patty’s love of baking and commitment to healthy products launch the Aunt Patty’s line of natural baking ingredients.  Beginning with her blackstrap molasses, she’s added dozens of natural sweeteners, organic herbs and spices, dried fruits, nuts, oils, baking supplies, and many more.

Stop my their retail store  at 55 N Seneca in West Eugene and you’ll find a fantastic array of bee memorabilia on display, along with just about everything you can think of relating to bees or baking. Besides their array of honey and baking products, you’ll find all you need to start your own hive, and everything you’ll need to make candles, soaps & lotions. The staff is friendly and ready to help with any questions you might have.