Apex, NC -- A beehive grant program is creating a buzz across North Carolina. Supported by money from the Golden LEAF Foundation, 250 new beekeepers received free hives in North Carolina last year. That has helped boost membership in the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association by more than 60%. There are now over 2,000 beekeepers in the organization. North Carolina relies on beekeepers to provide bees for honey production and the pollination of such crops as cucumbers, watermelons, peaches and pumpkins. Supporters say honeybees account for $154 million each year in added agricultural produce in the state. The free hive program didn't get funding this year. Still, the number of North Carolina beekeepers continues to grow.
North Carolina Beehive Grant Program Creates Buzz
The program is helping increase membership in the state Beekeepers Association.
