Sweet Cheeks Expands Bee Business

Sweet Cheeks Farm LLC proudly announces its acquisition of Tassot Apiaries, Inc., substantially expanding its bee business. The charming private farm in Chester, NJ, will be bolstering its current honey bee population with the additional Tassot bee yards throughout central and northern New Jersey.

“After 20 years in business, we have decided to retire,” said Jean-Claude Tassot, owner of Tassot Apiaries. “And we are thrilled to have found a great successor with a stellar reputation who will take care of our customers, and our bees, the way we did.”

Allison Tolpa, owner of Sweet Cheeks Farm is mutually smitten, “I am thrilled to have found such kindred spirits in the Tassots, who love their bees and providing all-natural products to the community like we do. We are fortunate they were looking to retire when we were looking to expand.”

The sale marks a bee-utiful serendipitous transition for the two Garden State family businesses.

“My son, Ben, is our head beekeeper and makes many of the products,” shares Tolpa. “In fact, we truly are a family business, because my two daughters, Olivia and Mia, not only help take care of the animals on our farm, but come up with new scents and flavors for our all natural cosmetics, in addition to printing labels, packaging products and managing sales at our farm stand on Sundays, as well. They will also help run our brand new market here at the farm, which will be opening soon!”

Prior to the addition of Tassot products, Sweet Cheeks offerings include a growing variety of honey, specialty foods, organic hand-harvested eggs, handcrafted small batch soaps, lip balms, essential oil bug repellent products and custom party favors. “All of our products are inspired by the animals we love and things we grow here at Sweet Cheeks,” adds Tolpa.

Tassot Apiaries, Inc., a family-run business created by Jean-Claude and Bea Tassot, located in Hunterdon County, has managed bee hives on many parcels of land throughout New Jersey since 2002. Like Sweet Cheeks, Tassot Apiaries specializes in raw, chemical free, high quality Artisan honey and bee products, including beeswax candles and handcrafted soaps offered in various natural fragrances.

Sweet Cheeks also acquired Tassot Apiaries beeswax candle business and will continue the beautiful craftsmanship of these all natural, non-petroleum based candles. Sweet Cheeks will be slowly transitioning to their own branding by the end of the year to ensure a smooth changeover for their newly acquired customers, which include many local farmers’ markets, including Easton, Madison, Summit, Princeton and Rittenhouse in Philadelphia, as well as retail customers throughout New Jersey.

Sweet Cheeks Farm and Apiary is a 16-acre privately owned family farm in Chester, NJ. The Tolpa family has a passion for rescuing animals, homesteading, beekeeping, food, photography, art, music and anything nature. In addition to approximately 300,000 bees, their menagerie of rescued animals includes four dogs, two cats, five tortoises, four horses, ducks, Nigerian dwarf goats, a miniature horse, a miniature donkey and one Vietnamese pig named Boris.

Although New Jersey is currently the only state in the U.S. without a cottage law on the books, small family businesses like Sweet Cheeks are encouraged that the state Senate recently passed a bill that would allow entrepreneurs in the Garden State to make and sell baked goods out of their homes, that do not require refrigeration or additional cooking after they are baked.

“We plan to apply for a cottage permit as soon as the bill passes the Assembly and is signed by the Governor,” says Tolpa. “We have a full line of jams, jellies and hot sauces that we know our Sweet Cheeks customers are going to love.”

Sweet Cheeks Farm and Apiary LLC prides itself on being a company with strong ethics by purchasing only American-made products, as well as using sustainable methods in everything we do, from raising our animals and caring for our bees to packaging our beautiful products for our customers. “We hope what inspires us may inspire you.” Go to SweetCheeksFarm.com to bring a little piece of Sweet Cheeks Farm & Apiary home.