The Northeast New Jersey Beekeepers Association (NNJBA) held their third annual Northeast NJ Honey Tasting Competition with over 180 honey lovers and tasters attending to pick the Northeast NJ champions of honeys.

The 2015 “Honey Cup” was held on Friday Sept. 18, at Ramapo College, Mahwah, with 34 beekeepers from Bergen and Passaic Counties vying for the designation of the Northeast NJ’s best tasting honey of the 2015 season.

The 2015 Champion was Doug Lawrence of Hewitt with Jar #13, 2nd Place was Kelly Palazzi of South Hackensack with Jar #17 and 3rd Place was Katie Driscoll of Rutherford with Jar #12.

Attendees who judged were champions themselves, tasting all 34 natural, local honeys and voted based on color, clarity and taste.

This year attendees also picked the Best Original Honey Label submitted by NNJBA members. Winners were: 1st Place Eddie and Heather Mika of Wood-Ridge, 2nd Place Lisa Johnson of Pompton Plains and 3rd Place Frank Vastano of Closter.

“It was our biggest event on all counts, most entries, most attended and most fun,” said NNJBA President Frank Mortimer.

Many beekeepers were on hand to answer tasters’ questions from starting a hive to harvesting honey and why it is important to care for New Jersey honeybees.

This year’s event was such a success NNJBA officials said next year’s event might expand to an outdoor, all-day festival event.