NATIONAL HONEY MONTH

August 31, 2026August 7, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by honey bees, and derived from the nectar of flowers. According to the United States National Honey Board and various international food regulations, “honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other substance…this includes, but is not limited to, water or other sweeteners”.

Honey is Not All the Same.
Honey is available in many varieties! Did you realize that honey is available in many different varieties? When bees visit mostly one kind of flower as they gather nectar, the honey they produce has a unique taste, aroma and color from that particular flower. Other honeys are delicious blends of floral sources (look for Mixed Flower, Polyfloral, Wildflower). The Honey Locator is a website you can use to find suppliers of these many varieties of honey.

September is significant for honey producers as it is the month that marks the end of the honey collection season for many beekeepers in the United States.

Honey and its use
The main uses of honey are in cooking, baking, as a spread on breads, and as an addition to various beverages such as tea and as a sweetener in commercial beverages. Because honey is hygroscopic (drawing moisture from the air), a small quantity of honey added to a pastry recipe will retard staling.

Medicinal uses and health effects of honey
For at least 2700 years, honey has been used to treat a variety of ailments through topical application, but only recently have the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey been chemically explained. As an antimicrobial agent honey may have the potential for treating a variety of ailments.

Topical honey has been used successfully in a comprehensive treatment of diabetic ulcers when the patient cannot use other topical antibiotics. Some studies suggest that the topical use of honey may reduce odors, swelling, and scarring when used to treat wounds.
Raw honey also contains enzymes that help in digestion, several vitamins and antioxidants.
Honey may also prevent the dressing from sticking to the healing wounds.
Honey has been shown to be an effective treatment for conjunctivitis in rats.
Honey (especially when combined with lemon) is often taken orally by pharyngitis and laryngitis sufferers, in order to soothe them.
Honey has been a part of many folk cures, it is common and cheap (compared to pharmaceuticals), and cannot be patented.

A Honey for All Skins
Skin is the body’s largest organ and its most exposed. Throughout life, the skin comes into contact with more damaging conditions and environments than any other part of the body. Pamper it with one of the world’s oldest skin care secrets, honey. read more http://www.honey.com/consumers/sb/skins.asp

History
The awareness month was initiated by The National Honey Board, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) founded and overseen organization. (a US government established, USDA-overseen, organization) in 1989.

Biblical Period
The Old Testament contains many references to honey as a symbol for all that is pleasant and desirable. For example, the book of Exodus famously describes the Promised Land as a ‘land flowing with milk and honey’ (33:3). There, however, the Hebrew devash refers to the sweet syrup produced from the juice of the date. In contrast, bees’ honey is referred to explicitly in The Book of Judges when Samson found a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of a lion (14:8). Matthew 3:4 John the Baptist lived for a long period of time in the wilderness on a diet consisting of locusts and wild honey. The word “honey” appears 61 times in the King James Version of the Bible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeyy

HOW TO OBSERVE

Add some honey to your diet and use #NationalHoneyMonth to post on social media.

NATIONAL ONION DAY

June 26, 2026June 6, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

Through all the years — and sometimes tears — National Onion Day on June 27 recognizes the flavor and aroma the bulb of the allium family brings to numerous recipes.

Whether we choose a sweet, white, red, or the ever-favorite yellow, we count on the onion to enhance the flavor of our savory recipes. They pair well with meats and salads, making the ever-versatile onion a cooking powerhouse. Added to eggs or pickled, it’s the required seasoning next to our salt and pepper.

While the onion packs in the flavor with very few calories, it’s also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Add onions to every meal to increase your dietary fiber and vitamin B6. As a bonus, you won’t be adding any cholesterol. With so many varieties to choose from, onions provide plenty of opportunities for us to relish the benefits.

As an industry, onions add $6 billion to U.S. markets. From farm to distribution to grocers and restaurants, onions generate economic growth throughout the year.

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HISTORY

The National Onion Association founded National Onion Day on June 27, 2019, to honor the anniversary of the association. They represent almost 500 onion growers, shippers, packers and associated members across the country and officially incorporated on June 27, 1913, in Ohio. The association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Be sure to add fresh onion for a punch of flavor to your favorite dish. No matter how you slice it, the onion brings some of the best flavors together! Whether you like to caramelize it or pickle it, tell us how you love to cook with onions!

Try these mouth-watering recipes from the National Onion Association:
High Protein Quinoa, Onion and Kale Salad
Spicy Onion Panini with Basil and Roasted Red Pepper
Oniony Meatloaf
Pan Fried Onion Slices

Use #NationalOnionDay to share your best recipes and tips on social media.

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NATIONAL GARDEN MONTH

March 31, 2026March 5, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 5 Comments

During National Garden Month in April, gather up your tools. You have permission to get dirty!

Like any other gardener, you’ve spent the last few months paging through catalogs dreaming and planning the next big adventure. The time has come. Whether you dream in color, spice or flavor, the all-important pleasure is getting to place those seeds or plants in the ground and nurture them along their way.

As gardeners know, we learn from each other and find joy in improving our skills. Working the soil and seeing the result of our labor is more than just satisfying. Being able to hand the seeds of life to another generation brings joy beyond measure.

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HISTORY

The National Gardening Association declared April National Gardening Month.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Tips for New Gardeners

Start small – Gardening can be an investment. Start with container gardening if you want to give it a whirl. Tomatoes and peppers will provide color and produce to eat.
Herbs such as basil, sage, and rosemary can also be brought in during the winter if planted in a container. If kept in a sunny window and watered when they are dry, they should survive the winter. Trim and use in your cooking.
Soil – Use the right soil for the plant. Depending on the plant, you may need to check with the garden center or extension service to determine if you have the right soil to grow a particular plant or tree. Areas with clay soils do not drain well and your plants will have wet roots in rainy weather. Sandy soils drain easily, but in a drought, the plant will require more water unless the plant is drought resistant.
Potted Plants – Anything in a container, such as a clay, plastic or resin pot will require more watering than a plant that has been placed in the earth. Depending on the daily temperature, these plants will likely need to be watered at least twice a day.
Fertilizer – Not all fertilizer is the same. Read labels and use the correct fertilizer for the type of plant.
Mulch – Mulching bedded plants helps protect from weeds and keeps from water loss.
Raised beds – Helps save on weeding and back-breaking work.

Sharpen your tools. Collect your seeds. Prepare your beds. It’s time to plant! Use #NationalGardenMonth to share on social media.

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NATIONAL APRICOT DAY

January 8, 2026January 10, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 6 Comments

Apricot lovers from all over the United States observe National Apricot Day every year on January 9th.

Related to the peach, the apricot’s velvety flesh is quite similar. However, the texture of the golden-orange fruit is firmer, and the flavor more tart than its cousin’s. Since we easily preserve the apricot, we enjoy this versatile fruit all year long – fresh, canned, and dried.

Apricots are found the world over but originated in northeastern China near the Russian border in ancient times. Later, the fruit was introduced to Europe and Armenia. The apricot found its way to North America when English colonists settled in Virginia. Apricots traveled further west when Spanish explorers and missionaries brought them on expeditions. This migration caused apricots to be grown commercially today.

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The apricot tree can grow to 45 feet if left unpruned. It produces white, pink, or red blossoms and is a winter-hardy tree. However, early frosts can damage the fruit.

Fresh apricots pack in the nutrients. A 1 cup serving of apricot halves contains 60% of the daily allowance of Vitamin A, and 26% of the daily allowance for Vitamin C. Other vitamins in this low-calorie snack include Vitamin B-6, Magnesium, Iron and Calcium and is also an excellent source of fiber.

With its unique flavor, the apricot is a versatile ingredient lending itself to both sweet and savory dishes. Perfect for snacking, apricots are best fresh off the tree but are also found in markets the year-round. Dried, they are delicious in healthy granola or a salad.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalApricotDay

The best way to celebrate is by eating an apricot. Whether you enjoy preserves or bake up your favorite recipes, be sure to invite someone to enjoy it with you. We’ve even supplied delicious recipes for you to try.

Consider planting an apricot tree in the spring or exploring and learning about apricot growers in your area. Buying local, when possible, supports the growers in your area. Eat some apricots and use #NationalApricotDay to post on social media.

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NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY

December 17, 2025December 17, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

Get the flapjacks ready for National Maple Syrup Day. December 17th calls for orders of pancakes, french toast or biscuits topped off with butter and delicious maple syrup.It is usually from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple or black maple trees that maple syrup is made from although it not limited to those maple species.

These trees, in cold climates, store starch in their trunks and in their roots. In the spring, the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap. The maple trees are then tapped by boring holes into their trunks and the released sap is collected. After the sap is collected, it is processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.

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Maple syrup was first collected, processed and used by the indigenous peoples of North America. The practice was then adopted by the European settlers who gradually refined production methods. In the 1970s further refinements in the syrup processing were made with technological improvements.

A maple syrup production farm is called a sugarbush or a sugarwood.
Sap is boiled in a sugar house which is also known as a sugar shack, sugar shanty or a cabane à sucre.

Up until the 1930s, the United States led in maple syrup production, now Canada is the world’s largest maple syrup producer.

Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #MapleSyrupDay

Serve up a breakfast worthy of real maple syrup. Whether you crave pancakes, biscuits or some light crepes, be sure to share them using #MapleSyrupDay to post on social media.