Our Story
It Really Started with a Couple of Hives and a Lot of Curiosity
A church friend who worked as a commercial beekeeper noticed how fascinated Chris had become with honeybees, and one day he simply dropped off two hives. That was all it took. What began as a backyard hobby quickly turned into a passion — two hives became ten, ten became fifty, and before long the family had become fully immersed in the keeping of the bees.
A Family Endeavor
Heritage Bee Farm has always been, first and foremost, a family endeavor. Chris and Melissa raised nine children together, and every one of them has been part of this farm in some way — some drawn to working the bees themselves, others to bottling, labeling, and creating honey products.
"It truly takes all of us. Four of our children are now married, and we're blessed with seven grandchildren who will be the third generation to grow up around these bees. There's something special about knowing this isn't just a business we built — it's a way of life we get to pass down."
We've been fortunate along the way too — our oldest son had the opportunity to work side-by-side with one of the top queen producers in the country, and so much of how we raise queens today grew out of that experience and the friendship that came with it.
The Farm
Our farm is in Myakka City, Florida, where our apiaries sit tucked into pasture land, oaks and pines, and hundreds of acres of citrus groves — just a mile from the Myakka River. It's a beautiful place to keep bees, and we don't take that for granted.
Not Every Season Has Been Easy
In 2022, Hurricane Ian hit Florida hard and we lost around 400 colonies. It was a tough setback, but it also reminded us why we love this work — beekeeping asks you to be patient and resilient, and to keep rebuilding when you need to. We did, and the farm has kept growing since.
Beyond the Farm
Over the years Chris has had some meaningful opportunities beyond our own operation. He lent his beekeeping expertise to a technology company developing AI-driven tools for the industry, and he helped one of the largest beekeeping operations in the country get established in Florida, overseeing more than 15,000 hives.
Chris and Melissa have also traveled abroad to teach — working with local beekeepers in the Dominican Republic on hive multiplication and value-added products, and later with a beekeeping association in Guinea, Africa on advanced queen production methods. That trip was featured in The American Bee Journal in 2025. Chris has also served on the board of the Florida State Beekeepers Association, staying connected to the wider beekeeping community.
Where We Are Today
All of that experience has been a gift, but our focus these days is simple — building Heritage Bee Farm and doing right by the bees, the land, and the people who support us.
Today that means managing around 3,000 colonies across four Florida counties — Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto — while still producing the same pure natural raw honey, quality queens, and beehive products we always have. We've also opened our farm to visitors since 2016, hosting tours for families, school groups, and anyone curious enough to want a closer look.
We're grateful for how far this journey has taken us, and even more grateful for the people who've been part of it. Thanks for being here with us.
— Chris, Melissa, and the Heritage Bee Farm family
