city in California
Honey bee forage in Calipatria, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (65th percentile) and lowest in fall (19th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 0.8 mi W); alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Calipatria?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to May 15, peaking early Apr (alfalfa, citrus)
- Season ends: Jul 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Calipatria, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Feb 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): alfalfa, citrus, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush; dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, citrus, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Citrus: about 777 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi NE, blooms early Mar – late Apr
- Alfalfa: about 573 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi NE, blooms early Apr – late May (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Calipatria
Mostly: Sod/Grass Seed; Alfalfa; Citrus.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.45 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 41% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
- Bee crops nearby that are often sprayed. Citrus: grapefruit: insecticides used on about 63% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: lemons: insecticides used on about 75% of surveyed US acres (2025); Citrus: tangerines: insecticides used on about 82% of surveyed US acres (2025). Figures are from USDA's Agricultural Chemical Use Survey, matched by crop type from the crop map. The survey counts any insecticide use in the crop year (not seed treatments) and doesn't say when; ask nearby growers about spray timing.
How Calipatria ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 60th | 92nd | 6th | 5th |
| California | 58th | 65th | 26th | 19th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 93rd | 96th | 85th | 9th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Calipatria: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Niland 5 mi · Westmorland 12 mi · Brawley 13 mi · Bombay Beach 19 mi · Imperial 23 mi · Holtville 25 mi
All towns in California · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Calipatria (33.1687, -115.4856); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.