PIERRE, S.D. — Take a break for a sweet treat of South Dakota honey at Bashful Bison Market, a Rapid City delicatessen and retail store, during ‘Honey at the Market’ on Sat., June 3, 2023 from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mountain.
The event aligns with the Annual Children’s Carnival taking place at Main Street Square across the street from the restaurant, located at 523 Main Street in Rapid City. Both young and old are invited to stop in and enjoy a free sample of tasty locally sourced fried bread with honey for dipping. Guests will also receive a discount coupon for one of Bashful Bison’s sandwiches.
This ‘Fresher is Fun’ event is the first of eight retail store events in the state promoting the purchasing of South Dakota grown specialty crops. The event is sponsored by the S.D. Specialty Producers Association through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program overseen by the S.D. Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
Specialty crops include fresh produce, and fun products like honey, jellies, pickles and more. These locally-grown products are fresh, flavorful and fun, and when you buy them, you are supporting producers, grocers, and co-ops who support our local economy.
Honey is considered part of specialty crop production. According to the DANR, there are 185 South Dakotans keeping bees in the state, with around 100 of these maintaining their bees for commercial production. South Dakota usually ranks in the top five states in the nation for total number of colonies (hives).
Bashful Bison Market offers four sizes of Hupp’s Honey, a premium product, produced locally in Rapid City. Producer, Spencer Hupp, is a very passionate beekeeper who believes deeply in what he does and the bees he keeps. Hupp will answer questions about his products and bee keeping during the event.
The market offers a convenient way to access a variety of local specialty crops and niche products at one location. Many products are available for purchase including a selection of South Dakota mushrooms, meats, cheeses, honey, jam, BBQ sauce, and more. The event will also offer local wheat, produced by Belle Valley Ancient Grains out of Belle Fourche. In addition to the retail offerings, the market serves breakfast and lunch and caters private events, which also feature locally sourced ingredients.
“At Bashful Bison Market we believe there is a story behind your food. We want our customers to have a unique culinary experience and enjoy locally sourced foods that are harvested in a socially responsible way,” Chef and owner Scott Brinker said.
— SDSPA