Skip to Main Content

Food science and entomology collaborate to produce Boiler Bee Honey

There are a number of food products produced by groups within the College of Agriculture, from the Department of Food Science’s Boiler Black and Boiler Gold beers to all the proteins supplied at the Boilermaker Butcher Block. Soon, fans of Purdue University consumables will have another item to add to their pantries: honey.

The departments of Food Science and Entomology have collaborated on Boiler Bee Honey, collected from bees in the Purdue apiary and processed and bottled in the food science pilot plant. The product has been minimally processed to allow consumers to see and taste the honey in its purest form. Proceeds from Boiler Bee Honey will support research in food science and entomology.

The honey bees responsible for this nectar fed on wildflowers, which produces a rich and dynamic flavor.

“They take a high level of care with the bees in the apiary, from the quality and type of flowers to the care of the bees,” said Eric Kurdelak, manager of the Pilot Plant. “And, of course, we have taken great care in processing the honey. This is a singular product.”

A key facet of this project is that it’s a student-driven initiative, Kurdelak added. Alyson McGovern, a sophomore in food science, has led the project from the honey’s extraction to its bottling. She has navigated every phase and challenge of the process, taking the honey from a raw ingredient to a shelf-ready product.

“The experience has been invaluable in terms of knowledge gained and in building my portfolio,” McGovern said. “When I’m applying for jobs, I’m going to have a physical product I can point to that I made happen. I might even take it to my interviews and put it on the table.”

Brock Harpur, assistant professor of entomology and project collaborator, said McGovern came in with very little knowledge of bees or honey, but she is now a bona fide expert.

“This is a wonderful way to demonstrate the collaborative work that can take place every day at Purdue and the opportunities we offer students,” Harpur said.

This isn’t a one-time event, Kurdelak added. The hope is to repeat this project every year and have the same project leader, in this case McGovern, training other undergraduates to take over after she leaves. With the proceeds, they will be able to support these students and improve the operation each year.

The inaugural batch processed this year produced roughly 3,000 bottles, taken from nearly 24,000 ounces of honey. The product is available at the Boilermaker Butcher Block on campus for $5 a bottle.

“I don’t know any place else where I could have this kind of hands-on experience,” McGovern said. “This is why I came to Purdue.”

Alyson McGovern, a sophomore in the Department of Food Science, works on filling bottles with honey in the Pilot Lab. (Photo by Tim Thompson.) Alyson McGovern, a sophomore in the Department of Food Science, works on filling bottles with honey in the Pilot Lab. (Photo by Tim Thompson.)

Featured Stories

Dog outdoors drinking water
Keeping your pets safe during the dog days of summer

As temperatures and humidity rise across the U.S., Candace Croney, director of the Center for...

Read More
Eastern hellbender salamanders feeding on bloodworms in their raceway at the Purdue Hellbender the Hellbender lab.
Metazoa Beer to Benefit Help the Hellbender Lab

Metazoa Brewing Company and the Indiana Lakes Management Society have teamed up to collaborate on...

Read More
Sonling Fei in front of digital trees
Digital forestry can help mitigate and prevent wildfires

The National Interagency Fire Center reports that, as of this writing, 19,444 fires have burned...

Read More
tomas hook next to boat
What you can do this summer to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species

In 2020, an alligator was captured in a lagoon of Chicago’s Humbolt Park. The reptile out...

Read More
Researcher uses pipette on parsley plant
Researchers examine nanotechnological methods for improving agriculture

Nanoscale particles could potentially help address agricultural and environmental sustainability...

Read More
Fairgoers ride a tractor, sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance, and browse food tents during the 2023 Indiana State Fair. (Purdue Agricultural Communications photo)
Purdue Extension to present engaging art and nature demonstrations at Indiana State Fair

The Indiana State Fair kicks off Aug. 2 and highlights the theme “The Art & Nature of...

Read More
To Top