David Bradshaw, a second-generation owner of Bradshaw Honey Farms in Visalia, California, manages bee colonies amidst rising operational costs and climbing mortality rates that mirror broader challenges across the domestic honey industry, according to company documents and industry data reviewed by CNBC Make It.
Bradshaw Honey Farms Navigates Rising Costs and Falling Honey Production
For 70-year-old David Bradshaw, beekeeping is a lifelong enterprise. His father, Howard Bradshaw, founded the family operation in 1958 out of their home backyard after leaving a career as an aircraft mechanic. David Bradshaw recalls playing near the hives as a child and estimates he has been stung thousands of times over the decades. Today, the family farm operates from a five-acre property in Visalia where Bradshaw lives with his wife. His daughter works full-time managing honey bottling operations, and his son assists as needed. According to Bradshaw, pollination services provide the vast majority of the farm’s revenue, while honey production has dwindled over the past ten years as cheaper imported products flooded the market.
Financial pressures have mounted significantly for the Visalia-based operation. Bradshaw Honey Farms generated approximately $1.8 million in gross income last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. However, after factoring in expenses such as labor for two full-time employees, fuel prices, and tariffs on key supplies like honey bottles, the business operated at a loss. Bradshaw stated that he has had to draw heavily on his personal savings, which are now depleted, keeping the farm afloat out of a sense of legacy responsibility.
Seasonal Pollination Routes Across the San Joaquin Valley
Bradshaw’s colonies travel extensively across California to service local agriculture. The yearly rotation begins in mid-February, when hives are delivered to almond orchards across the San Joaquin Valley. From there, the bees move on to pollinate cherries, prunes, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit during the spring months. During summer and early fall, Bradshaw relocates the hives to the Sierras so the insects can forage on native plants and gather pollen. When crops are out of season, Bradshaw rents land from local cattle ranchers and farmers, often trading steady supplies of free honey for pasture access in wide-open spaces.
Did you know? Commercial beekeepers must constantly relocate their hives to follow agricultural blooms. According to David Bradshaw, relying on the generosity of local ranchers for pastureland is essential for giving bees a place to rest and rebuild food stores between pollination contracts.
Parasitic Mites and Industry-Wide Colony Losses
Nature poses constant hurdles for modern apiarists. According to Bradshaw, unpredictable weather patterns—ranging from droughts that stunt plant growth to excessive rain that keeps bees trapped in their hives—require constant intervention with artificial protein and sugar syrup supplements. Beyond weather, parasitic mites remain a primary threat by weakening colonies and transmitting fatal pathogens like deformed wing virus. Bradshaw estimates that viral infections and mites caused him to lose roughly 60% of his bee population in 2025.
These localized losses reflect a nationwide crisis. According to a survey published in April 2025 by the nonprofit bee research organization Project Apis m., 62% of commercial honeybee colonies in the United States died between June 2024 and February 2025 due to a combination of parasites, pathogens, pesticide exposure, and inadequate nutrition. Across the industry, many independent operators are choosing to sell their businesses to larger corporations rather than absorb continuous losses. Despite these steep obstacles, Bradshaw maintains that his commitment to the insects remains absolute, noting that he intends to continue working his hives for the rest of his life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do commercial beekeepers make money?
Most commercial beekeepers generate the majority of their income by renting out their bee colonies to farmers for seasonal crop pollination rather than selling honey, according to financial documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
What are the main causes of honeybee colony deaths?
According to Project Apis m., the primary causes of commercial honeybee colony deaths are parasites, pathogens, pesticide exposure, and inadequate nutrition.
Where is Bradshaw Honey Farms located?
Bradshaw Honey Farms is located on a five-acre property in Visalia, California, where it has operated for decades.
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