Our Story
Our Story
About Us
We are a family-owned and community-driven apiary company with a unique commitment to the special needs community.
We believe in the intrinsic value of every individual and their right to success, knowledge, inclusion, self-determination, and equality.
Many of our products are made by and benefit people with special needs, providing them with meaningful employment and a sense of contribution. We actively promote honey bee awareness through our programs and partnerships. Our vision is to expand our company to provide more classes for local people with special needs, using the honey business as means to support our mission.
Our Story
Our journey into beekeeping began with a shared commitment to healthier living. Concerned about chronic health issues, we planted an organic backyard victory garden, only to discover a lack of pollinators. After hand-pollinating our vegetables with little success, we were inspired to learn more about bees—and quickly became captivated by their complexity and vital role in nature. Alma focused on caring for the bees and developing our line of honey-based products, while Glenn took the lead on marketing, design, and managing day-to-day operations—keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Together, we founded Sarasota Honey Company to share our passion for bees and support sustainability, education, and community. What started in our garden has grown into a mission we’re proud to carry forward.
Alma Johnson – Co-Owner, Product Development & Head Beekeeper, Sarasota Honey Company
Alma Johnson is the co-owner and head beekeeper of Sarasota Honey Company, where she oversees the care of all bee colonies, leads beekeeping workshops, special needs initiatives, and community outreach. Her professional journey began in special needs advocacy, supporting youth transitioning from school to community life.
Combining her passion for beekeeping with her background in youth services, Alma has become a certified queen breeder with a focus on genetics. She continuously expands her expertise through training and speaking engagements locally and internationally blending science with hands-on experience.
Alma remains committed to increasing public awareness of honeybees, our work model with specially-abled persons and inspiring the next generation of hobbyist beekeepers—including individuals with special needs.
Glenn Johnson – Co-Owner & Director of Marketing
Glenn Johnson is the co-owner, beekeeper, and director of marketing at Sarasota Honey Company. With a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Boston, Massachusetts, he brings a creative vision to every aspect of the business. A successful professional photographer and graphic designer, Glenn designs all of the company’s branding, packaging, and merchandising materials, while also managing retail distribution and marketing strategies.
In addition to his work behind the scenes, Glenn is an active beekeeper and plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the company’s hives. On weekends, he looks forward to spending time outdoors with the bees and finds balance in creating fine art, where his passion for nature and design come together. Whether he's coordinating logistics or crafting compelling visuals, Glenn is the driving force who keeps the business organized and moving forward.
Don & Jane Byam – SHC Market Ambassadors for Venice, Wellen Park, and Dearborn Englewood Farmers Market
Don and Jane Byam are beloved members of the Sarasota Honey Company family, bringing their warmth, dedication, and charm to our farmers market booths. Married for over 49 years, this dynamic duo manages our presence at the Dearborn Market in Englewood, the Venice Farmers
Market on Saturdays, and Wellen Park Farmers Market on Sundays. Don became a certified beekeeper through the Florida Department of Agriculture, making him an official part of the beekeeping crew!
Alma first met Don and Jane as booth
neighbors at the Phillippi Creek Farmers Market. A friendly collaboration quickly grew into a close-knit friendship—and ultimately, family. When Sarasota Honey Company began to grow, Don and Jane were the natural choice to help expand our team. Eager to learn about bees, honey, and what makes our company special, they dove in headfirst.
Their enthusiasm was infectious. Alma
recalls watching Don learn about beekeeping with the wide-eyed joy of a child on Christmas morning. It wasn’t long before he was suited up in the field—and getting his first lesson in wearing thicker socks around the bees! We’re
thrilled to have Don as our certified beekeeper and both Don and Jane as the smiling faces that customers look forward to seeing each week. Their
dedication, warmth, and genuine love for what we do make them an irreplaceable
part of our hive.
Jess - Director of Communications & Digital Media
Don and Jane Byam are beloved members of the Sarasota Honey Company family, bringing their warmth, dedication, and charm to our farmers market booths. Married for over 49 years, this dynamic duo manages our presence at the Dearborn Market in Englewood, the Venice Farmers
Market on Saturdays, and Wellen Park Farmers Market on Sundays. Don became a certified beekeeper through the Florida Department of Agriculture, making him an official part of the beekeeping crew!
Alma first met Don and Jane as booth
neighbors at the Phillippi Creek Farmers Market. A friendly collaboration quickly grew into a close-knit friendship—and ultimately, family. When Sarasota Honey Company began to grow, Don and Jane were the natural choice to help expand our team. Eager to learn about bees, honey, and what makes our company special, they dove in headfirst.
Their enthusiasm was infectious. Alma
recalls watching Don learn about beekeeping with the wide-eyed joy of a child on Christmas morning. It wasn’t long before he was suited up in the field—and getting his first lesson in wearing thicker socks around the bees! We’re
thrilled to have Don as our certified beekeeper and both Don and Jane as the smiling faces that customers look forward to seeing each week. Their
dedication, warmth, and genuine love for what we do make them an irreplaceable
part of our hive.
Michele – Specially Abled Beekeeper, Sales & Production Associate
Michele plays a vital role at Sarasota Honey Company, assisting with product production, assembling market inventory, and running our store twice a week. She’s a key part of our team—and we’re especially proud to say she’s our top specially abled field beekeeper.
Calm, focused, and confident around the hives, Michele has a natural gift for working with bees. Since bees are highly sensitive to human emotions, her steady presence makes her a perfect fit in the field. Michele’s talent and dedication shine through in everything she does. Way to go, Michele!
Cleo –Sales & Production Associate | Digital Media Assistant
Cleo joined the Sarasota Honey Company hive in 2021 and has been a valued part of our team ever since. As a sales and production associate, Cleo supports both in-store and market operations, while also lending her tech savvy to help Alma with social media, digital projects, and creative tasks. Diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age three, Cleo brings a thoughtful, insightful perspective to everything she does.
Though once terrified of bees, Cleo has grown to admire their work ethic, scientific complexity, and the fascinating dynamics within the hive. Her ability to face fears and turn discomfort into curiosity speaks volumes about her resilience. Cleo has a “get back on the bike” attitude—continually showing courage and determination, even when things feel unsure or outside her comfort zone. Beyond her work with the all things honeybees, she’s a talented digital artist and writer with a love for mythology, classical literature, and cartooning. We’re excited to showcase her writing in our newsletters, where she brings together creativity and her growing passion for honey bees.
“Hey Cleo… do you like honey?!”
Mr. T (a.k.a. Trevor)Customer Service Gentleman & Hive Helper Extraordinaire
Mr. T is Sarasota Honey Company’s resident gentleman and a true ray of sunshine. Known for his charm, good manners, and winning smile, Mr. T is always ready to lend a helping hand—whether it’s opening doors or carrying honey products to customers’ cars. He’s especially popular with the ladies, and we can’t blame them—he’s got style, grace, and just the right amount of swagger.
Behind the scenes, Mr. T is a dedicated member of our production team. He helps label and package our products, makes beautiful beeswax candles, and even builds and paints our beehives with care. He’s got a fantastic sense of humor and keeps us all smiling with his quick wit and playful energy. Mr. T keeps our hive buzzing with good vibes, big laughs, and a whole lot of heart.
When he's not at SHC, Mr. T enjoys spending time with his beloved kitty Emma (his baby girl), rocking out to his idol Justin Timberlake (he’s JT’s #1 fan!), and definitely not making his bed when Mom’s out of town.
Buzz & Zoey: Security, Customer Relations, Quality Control
Buzz & Zoey proudly serve as Sarasota Honey Company’s security team and welcome committee. Zoey takes her job guarding the cash register very seriously… unless there's honey nearby, in which case “quality control” becomes her top priority. Buzz, meanwhile, handles customer relations to the next level, greeting every visitor like a long-lost best friend (with a few extra wiggles and kisses for good measure).
Their daily schedule includes greeting guests, inspecting snacks, and catching up on their 12+ hours of beauty sleep. When they’re not snoring in unison, they’re making sure the shop is filled with kisses, tail wags and smiles. They may not make the honey, but they definitely bring the sweetness.