Panhandle apiary producing certified pure tupelo honey from the Dead Lakes region along the Chipola River.

The Beekeeper's Story

Smiley Honey was started in 1989 by Donald Smiley, who discovered beekeeping later in life and famously began his operation out of his garage. At the height of his operations, Donald managed over 1,000 beehives producing some of the finest Tupelo honey in the region. In 2012, Donald retired, selling off his beehives and extraction equipment while the bottling operation was acquired by new owners. In 2022, Will & Wandi acquired the full operation—beehives, extraction, and bottling—ensuring the legacy of Donald Smiley continued. The business is now a fully integrated apiary located in Gulf County, Florida, next to the Apalachicola River, operating hives, extraction, and honey bottling all under one roof. Nestled in the Florida Panhandle about an hour east of Panama City, Wewahitchka is considered the heartland of Tupelo honey production—one of only two places in the world where fine White Tupelo honey is produced commercially. The Tupelo trees thrive in the wet conditions of the Dead Lakes and the surrounding river basins, blooming for just a few weeks each spring. Though Tupelo remains the signature product, Smiley Honey has expanded its lineup to include a wide variety of raw, unfiltered honey varieties and honey-inspired products. Their history is even featured in the book 'Robbing the Bees' by Holley Bishop.