U.S. Honey Consumption Hits All-Time High According to USDA

Latest report finds honey consumption totaled 688.6 million pounds

ERIE, Colo., July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service's Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook Tables, U.S. consumption of honey and made-with-honey products reached an all-time high of 688.6 million pounds in 2024, surpassing 2021's previous record of 618 million pounds. The data also highlights a record per capita consumption increase of approximately 25% from 1.6 pounds to a record 2 pounds, between 2023 and 2024.

The latest figures specific to the American honey market were detailed in a feature article, titled, "Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook Tables - Visualization: Meeting honey demand in the United States." Over a 30-year period, U.S. demand for honey and honey-sweetened products has continued to trend upward due to its classification as a "superfood" that benefits overall health and well-being, as well as being perceived as a healthier alternative to table sugar.

"The results of this study are a testament to American consumers' increased awareness of honey's benefits" said Margaret Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of the National Honey Board. "Steadily, over time, honey has become the preferred sweetener for many because it's an all-natural, minimally processed sweetener. When you choose honey, you are not only supporting a beekeeper but the entire honey bee population that protects and pollinates our food ecosystem."

These findings align with the National Honey Board's U.S. Honey Consumer Attitudes & Usage study, which found that honey is the most used sweetener across lunch, dinner and snack times. Consumers report preferring honey for its all-natural health benefits, in addition to flavor.

For more data on 2024's honey demand and consumption, read the full USDA Sugar and Sweeteners Yearbook here.

About National Honey Board

The National Honey Board (NHB) is an industry-funded agriculture promotion group that works to educate consumers about the benefits and uses for honey and honey products through research, marketing and promotional programs. The Board's work, funded by an assessment on domestic and imported honey, is designed to increase the awareness and usage of honey by consumers, the foodservice industry and food manufacturers. The ten-member-Board, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, represents producers (beekeepers), packers, importers, and a marketing cooperative. For more information, visit www.honey.com.  

SOURCE National Honey Board