Honeybees Find New Home on Central Market's Roof

Honeybees have it tough these days. Despite increased attention from science, colony collapse and the deaths of bees by the millions continue to worry beekeepers and farmers who depend on bees to pollinate their crops worldwide. While many blame systemic pesticide use, the practice continues to dominate modern agriculture, leading...

By Scott Reitz

July 29, 2015

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Honeybees have it tough these days. Despite increased attention from science, colony collapse and the deaths of bees by the millions continue to worry beekeepers and farmers who depend on bees to pollinate their crops worldwide. While many blame systemic pesticide use, the practice continues to dominate modern agriculture, leading beekeepers to fight back by installing beehives in unconventional locations.

That's how eight hives ended up on the roof of Central Market on Lovers Lane earlier this spring. Installed by the American Honey Bee Protection Agency, the hives are fully functional, and nearly 400 pounds of honey was recently harvested with another harvest expected in the fall. Central Market and the protection agency hope the hives will increase awareness about the plight of the honey bee while also giving customers a chance to purchase honey so local it was harvested just steps away.

At Dallas' Central Market, beekeepers are tending to urban swarms of rescued honeybees.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Dallas Observer has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.