For three generatiions, the De Stefani family has been producing honey of the very highest quality which they sell to local shops.
The history of Lorenzo&´s honey has distant origins, since 1930 in fact, and his paternal grandparents Luigi and Lina. It was they who set up the beekeeping business with three hives situated behind their home in Prata Camportaccio that produced a small number of jars of honey for the family and maybe exchanged for other matters. "They say that grandad placed the bees home near the green bean plants to prevent his vegetables being stolen," Lorenzo chuckles as he displays some black and white photographs that capture the historic scene well.
Luigi&´s passion for beekeeping clearly infected his son Giuseppe, Lorenzo&´s father, who established the business in a more commercial fashion. managing up to 40 hives. "With other beekeepers in the area he began to practice nomadism, that is the transfer of the hives to the upper mountains, to produce different types of honey" Lorenzo explains. The activity remains additional to the main business but nevertheless by the end of the 1980&´s had grown to accommodate up to 200 hives, with a spirit of splendid collaboration between the various producers.
It was perhaps inevitable that Lorenzo would not remain immune to the real charm of this enterprise. Today he looks after 150 hives and produces honey for direct sales and for some local shops and restaurants. His honey, like that of the other producers in the valley, is much appreciated. Some years ago now Lorenzo also opened a shop where he sells the honey and other products made from wax. When it&´s closed customers can take the jars of honey on display outside and leave the money in a wooden box nearby. A happy arrangement based on trust which works really well. Lorenzo&´s healthy production is pretty extensive with honeys of the varieties Acacia, Chestnut, Lime, Rhododendron and Millefiori. In 2020 he received the "Two golden drops - Great Honeys from Italy" award for the best rhododendron honey, a precious recognition of all his hard work and commitment. The hope now is that the enterprise can continue with one of his very young children. And when we ask them who intends to carry on looking after the bees, there is not a moment&´s hesitation: all three immediately raise their hands. Excellent - the famous honey of the De Stefani family looks safe as..... hives!
