The Brief
- A new UF-IFAS program is helping Florida beekeepers turn their hobby into small businesses.
- The two-year initiative is supported by a $626,000 federal grant.
- On World Honey Bee Day, local beekeepers say awareness of pollinators is more important than ever.
BRADENTON, Fla. – The University of Florida is helping beekeepers across the state transform their passion into a profession.
Backed by a $626,000 USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant, UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) selected 30 beekeepers to join a two-year program aimed at building small businesses from honey and beeswax.
Florida is home to 5,000 beekeepers who manage about 700,000 colonies, according to UF’s Apiculture Program.
While bees are essential pollinators — responsible for nearly one-third of the world’s food sources — many hobbyists have lacked guidance on turning their work into income.…