Migratory beekeeping is the practice of moving honeybee colonies to different locations throughout the year to follow crop bloom cycles and fulfill pollination contracts. For the Bouye family, this means loading hundreds of hives onto flatbed trucks and driving thousands of miles across state lines — from Florida citrus groves in the spring to California almond orchards in the winter and everywhere in between.
This is not just a job — it is a way of life that requires deep knowledge of bee behavior, flower cycles, weather patterns, and the willingness to live on the road for months at a time. Brandon Bouye learned this craft from his father, who learned it from his father, going all the way back to the family's first generation of beekeepers.
Why Migratory Beekeeping Matters
Here is something most people do not realize: without migratory beekeepers like the Bouyes, crops like almonds, blueberries, cherries, and apples would face devastating yield losses. In fact, one-third of the food we eat depends on pollination by honeybees. When you buy a pint of strawberries at the grocery store, there is a good chance a migratory beekeeper made that possible.
The Bouye Family Route
Every year, the Bouyes follow a carefully planned route that takes them through Florida, Georgia, California, and the Dakotas. Each stop is timed to coincide with a specific bloom period — orange blossoms in Florida, wildflowers in the plains, and so on. This ensures the bees have access to the best nectar and pollen sources, and it produces the incredible variety of honey you see in our shop.
What You Can Do
Supporting migratory beekeepers is one of the most impactful things you can do for bee health and food security. When you buy American Honey, you are directly supporting the Bouye family's ability to keep their bees healthy and on the road. You are also voting with your dollar for a food system that values pollinators and the people who care for them.
Want to learn more? Watch American Honey on Tubi to see the Bouye family in action, and check out our honey shop to taste the results of their hard work.