Buckeye’s “Honey Man” is still battling cancer, but he is back at a familiar location, and the state is not complaining.
Antonio Recoba, who has been selling honey in Buckeye for a decade, has amassed quite the fanbase. His daughter Mariela Nevarez, who helps with his business, often shares information about her dad’s whereabouts on Facebook, and a recent update on her father got more than 1,000 reactions.
Recoba, who previously beat kidney cancer after having his kidney removed, was diagnosed again last summer, with the cancer having returned to the same spot where his kidney had been.
Even while undergoing treatment every three weeks, Recoba has been dedicated to waking up at 4 a.m. every morning to sell honey. His future schedule might be slightly different and more uncertain. Nevarez shared that her father will undergo more intensive treatment.
Now, he will be selling a few days of the week at his previous location of Elliot and Tuthill roads. It is in an area near Buckeye that is technically unincorporated Maricopa County.
While Recoba has had a license to sell, the State Land Department had asked him to move from the intersection after complaints. But Nevarez said Recoba has since obtained a new permit with a barcode, and he hasn’t run into any issues.
Recoba has been at Elliot and Tuthill roads Friday through Sunday. Other days, he has set up outside the Tractor Supply Co. at Miller Road and Magnolia Lane.
Lately, Recoba has mostly been selling at Elliot and Tuthill roads. It’s closer to home and is more convenient in case he isn’t feeling well, Nevarez said.
Recoba will begin a new treatment later this month. But he’s still committed to selling honey.
“He likes that interaction, that distraction. Regardless of how he’s feeling, he likes to set up his little stand on the corner,” Nevarez said.
Nevarez said her family has gotten massive amounts of community support. The family recently went on a weekend vacation, and Nevarez said she was flooded with messages inquiring about her father’s whereabouts. As she was struggling to respond to them all, she decided to post on Facebook why her father is absent some days.
“It feels nice that so, so many people care for my dad and love him,” Nevarez said.
Recoba said he is very thankful and blessed for all of the support from the community.
Nevarez said she’s received several orders for “Honey Man” shirts after customers saw Recoba wearing the one Nevarez had made for him.
The Honey Man sells a 16-ounce jar for $20 and a 32-ounce jar for $30. T-shirts are available in different sizes for purchase.
Because insurance does not cover most of Recoba’s medical expenses, Nevarez has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund his treatments. Visit the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/3886v6-please-help-my-dad-with-medical-bills.
The best way to find where Recoba is selling is to call him at 602-727-1851. Nevarez also posts on various Buckeye Facebook pages as much as she can.
Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Buckeye Honey Man Antonio Recoba still selling during cancer treatment