Beekeepers creating a big ‘buzz’ on Central Coast

It’s just another day for Dale Hillard, a longtime member of the Monterey Bay Beekeepers. The growing group responsible for all the buzz around town.

“It’s a group of beekeepers that get together every month at black bear diner and talk shop,” said Beekeeper Dale Hillard.

Hillard said more and more people are buying bees around the Central Coast, which led to the recent push to repeal a Monterey City ordinance that bans bees. And while business can be sweet, for many it’s about pollination.

“So far we’ve been able to meet the pollination needs, but in places like China they hand pollination to meet the food demands,” said Hillard.

In 2006 beekeepers across the United States began reporting bee die-off.

“It’s still with us. We still have this die off problem. They don’t make it through the winter. You pretty much by queens and start up again. But it’s becoming more and more difficult financially for beekeepers,” said Hillard.

Despite one hive costing around $200.00, farmers, hobbyist and homeowners are buzzing over honey bees.

“Often times people will call up and say ‘hey my trees, my fruits are not maturing, they are not being pollinated,’ well it’s because of a lack of honey bees in our neighborhoods,” said Hillard.