community in California
Honey bee forage in Fruitridge Pocket, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 74% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (79th percentile) and lowest in spring (58th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 2.9 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); almonds (nearest 3.6 mi N).
When is the honey flow in Fruitridge Pocket?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, maples)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 30, peaking early Mar (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jul 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fruitridge Pocket, 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 Mar 1.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
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 5 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.9 mi E, blooms late Apr – early Jun (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Almonds: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.6 mi N, blooms early Feb – late Mar
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 Fruitridge Pocket
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 1.45 mi S; pond, lake or river 2 mi SW.
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.
- No mapped water within a mile. Plan to provide water. Small ponds, ditches, troughs and pools don't show on these maps.
How Fruitridge Pocket ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 85th | 37th | 44th |
| California | 74th | 58th | 63rd | 79th |
| Central California Valley | 30th | 26th | 69th | 89th |
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 Fruitridge Pocket: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Lemon Hill 1 mi · Parkway 2 mi · Sacramento 3 mi · Florin 4 mi · West Sacramento 5 mi · Freeport 5 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 Fruitridge Pocket (38.5326, -121.4558); 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.