Texas beekeepers are celebrating their strongest honey harvest in recent years, producing more than 4 million pounds of the sweet gold, valued at nearly $9 million total.
The milestone was celebrated during an announcement from Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller this weekend at the Texas Beekeepers Association’s Annual Convention in Waco.
Speaking to hundreds of beekeepers and honey producers gathered at the Extraco Events Center, Miller hailed the comeback as proof that collective efforts to protect pollinators are paying off after several weaker years of production.
“There’s nothing sweeter than a Texas comeback, and this year’s honey harvest proves it,” Miller said. “After a few tough, dry seasons that had Texas bees working overtime just to survive, this has turned out to be a banner year for Texas beekeepers. With generous spring rains, strong wildflower blooms that produced a long summer nectar flow, Texas honey is flowing like never before.”
Texas A&M reports the state’s 2025 honey crop averaged $2.24 per pound at the wholesale level, marking one of the best seasons on record for both consumers and producers.
Honey and honey-related products rang up more than $60,000 in sales at this year’s State Fair of Texas alone, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Miller did point out some ongoing challenges, including the destructive “Varroa mite” and colony diseases that the DOA continues to research, but stressed that state support remains strong.
The DOA has awarded the Texas Beekeepers Association more than $300,000 in federal Specialty Grants over the past decade and will soon deliver another $100,000 to Texas A&M to open a new Texas Bee Testing Center focused on early disease detection.
“Texas beekeepers are a vital part of our agricultural economy, but they’re also on the front lines of protecting the pollinators that keep our entire food system thriving,” Miller said.
Founded in 1880, the Texas Beekeepers Association is the state’s oldest agricultural organization of its kind and hosts the largest honey-focused convention in Texas. This year’s event was a celebration indeed, considering the good numbers posted in 2025.
Miller closed his remarks at the convention by encouraging Texans to choose local honey at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
“Every spoonful of local honey tells a story of Texas families who’ve kept bees for generations,” Miller added. “We will always support Texas honey producers, and help ensure that consumers know that buying local honey doesn’t just taste better, it keeps dollars in rural communities and helps protect the pollinators.”