After completing his education at A&M and serving in the US Navy, Mark Belcher transitioned to a career in Information Technology which eventually brought him to HMNS. However, as the owner of Belcher Bees, Mark serves a dual role, bringing his passion for Texas raw honey production to the museum.

Honeybees play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They are indispensable for maintaining the health of our crops and the planet. Without beekeepers, many of the foods we rely on, such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc., would be unable to thrive. In fact, approximately 80% of our food supply is pollinated by honeybees. Beyond their role in agriculture, honeybees have been cherished for their products for centuries. Honey, one of nature's sweetest gifts, possesses natural antiseptic properties. Throughout history, it has been used as a soothing salve to treat burns and wounds. The high sugar content of honey creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria, making it an effective and natural remedy. 

Belcher Bees' honey is raw and unfiltered, preserving all of the rich nutrients, enzymes and natural antibiotics contained in honey. And since the hives are based in Alvin, TX- the bees capture pollens from flora local to Houston, which can provide benefits of combating local allergens.

The higher amount of sugar in honey can lead to crystallization- but never fear, crystallized honey is safe to eat! If you prefer your honey with a liquid consistency, you can place the jar in a bowl of warm water until you can easily spoon the honey out.

• Why does this happen? Each flower species has a different proportion of glucose to fructose in its nectar, and glucose crystallizes more readily than fructose. When bees make honey, they are creating a ‘supersaturated solution,’ which in this case means the natural sugars (mainly glucose and fructose—from the harvested flower nectar) are dissolved in a tiny amount of water, and the honey stays liquid but very temperamentally so the sugars start to crystalize over time. This is something that happens to all honey, whether it's filtered or unfiltered.