Honey production requires year-round work and close coordination with nature. At Busy Bee Apiary, Derek and Angela Lawrance begin each year in Visalia, California, where they care for and feed their bees. In February, the bees are moved to almond and cherry orchards for pollination, then to hills and citrus orchards where they produce honey and new queen bees are introduced.

In May, the bees are transported to Montana for the summer honey season. There, they are placed in over 150 locations to collect nectar and store honey in “honey supers.” After harvest, the honey is processed through an automated system that extracts it from the comb, separates it from wax, and stores it in large tanks and totes for bottling. Some honey is bottled to share with farmers who host the hives.

Throughout the year, weather plays a critical role, affecting queen mating in California and flower growth in Montana. By late September, the bees are shipped back to California, where they are fed and cared for through the end of the year.