city in California
Honey bee forage in El Centro, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 58% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (68th percentile) and lowest in spring and summer (46th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.3 mi SW, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in El Centro?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Fall flow: May 16 to Jun 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of El Centro, 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 10.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- 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
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, garden flowers, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 402 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.5 mi NW, blooms early Apr – late May (grown 1 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 El Centro
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns); Other Hay/Non Alfalfa.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.91 mi S; pond, lake or river 0.91 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 99% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How El Centro ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 60th | 68th | 22nd | 34th |
| California | 58th | 46th | 46th | 68th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 93rd | 89th | 93rd | 94th |
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 El Centro: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Imperial 4 mi · Heber 4 mi · El Centro Naval Air Facility 7 mi · Seeley 7 mi · Calexico 8 mi · Holtville 11 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 El Centro (32.7864, -115.5602); 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.