What is Upendo Honey?
Upendo Honey is all about delivering the world’s best honey, straight from the pristine forests of Tanzania. This isn’t just any honey – it’s organic, pure, and harvested by traditional beekeepers nestled deep within gazetted forests and game reserves in western Tanzania. No pesticides, no chemicals, just raw, unadulterated goodness. The company is certified to meet EU and USDA NOP standards and follows HACCP food safety protocols, ensuring every jar of honey is traceable right back to the beekeeper in the forest. It’s a product that’s as authentic as it gets.
Main Benefits of Upendo Honey
Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes Upendo Honey stand out:
- Certified organic honey from untouched Tanzanian forests
- Traceability all the way back to individual beekeepers
- Boosts beekeeper incomes by 30% or more
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 56,000 tons of CO2 annually
- Over 50% of processing facility employees are women
- Adheres to strict EU, USDA, and HACCP standards
Supporting Traditional Beekeepers
The heart of Upendo Honey lies with the beekeepers themselves. These folks are some of the poorest people on the planet, living in Kigoma where average incomes barely scratch a few dollars a day. Through training, certification, and access to international markets, Upendo Honey helps increase their incomes significantly. It’s not just about honey – it’s about creating jobs and prosperity in remote communities that often have little of either. This connection between product and people is what makes the honey taste even sweeter.
Protecting Forests and Fighting Deforestation
Upendo Honey isn’t just good for people – it’s good for the planet too. By working closely with beekeepers to manage their forests sustainably, the company helps slow down, and even reverse, deforestation. Illegal logging and charcoal production are replaced with a sustainable income from organic honey production. This shift not only preserves the natural habitat but also plays a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a large scale. It’s a win-win for the environment and the communities that depend on it.
Empowering Women Through Employment
One of the standout features of Upendo Honey is its commitment to female employment and empowerment. As the largest private sector employer in the Kigoma region, the company invests heavily in women. More than half of the employees in the processing facility are women, and several hold key management and directorship roles. This focus on gender equality helps create a more inclusive workplace and provides good-paying jobs in a region where such opportunities are rare. It’s about building a future where women can thrive.
Project Impact and Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 1: No Poverty – Increasing incomes for some of the poorest beekeepers
- SDG 5: Gender Equality – Promoting female employment and leadership
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Creating sustainable jobs in rural Tanzania
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Producing organic, pesticide-free honey
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 56,000 tons annually
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Protecting forests and reversing deforestation trends
Connecting with Upendo Honey
Want to learn more or get in touch? Upendo Honey is reachable via email at buzz@upendoagri.com or on Whatsapp at +255 (0)659 627 145. Their postal address is PO Box 88, Kigoma, Tanzania, and the physical location is Plot 309, KiSEZ, Ujiji, Kigoma. For updates and community stories, follow them on Facebook at Upendo Honey Facebook and on LinkedIn at Upendo Honey Linkedin. It’s a sweet way to stay connected with a project that’s making a real difference.
