community in California
Honey bee forage in Mecca, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 94% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (99th percentile) and lowest in fall (25th). Biggest nearby bee crops: citrus (nearest 0.1 mi E); grapes (nearest 0.2 mi E); watermelons (right here, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Mecca?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Apr 30, peaking late Mar (citrus)
- Season ends: Apr 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Mecca, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): citrus, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), watermelons, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): citrus, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, 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
- Citrus: about 795 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi E, blooms early Mar – late Apr
- Grapes: about 481 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi E, blooms late Mar – early Apr
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 Mecca
Mostly: Grapes; Citrus; Fallow / idle cropland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.22 mi N; open water 0.22 mi N.
Things to watch
- 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); Grapes (all types): insecticides used on about 58% of surveyed US acres (2021); Grapes, wine type: insecticides used on about 56% of surveyed US acres (2025); Grapes, table type: insecticides used on about 50% of surveyed US acres (2025); Grapes, raisin type: insecticides used on about 77% of surveyed US acres (2025); Watermelons: insecticides used on about 38% of surveyed US acres (2024). 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 Mecca ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 99th | 100th | 7th | 9th |
| California | 94th | 99th | 27th | 25th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 100th | 100th | 86th | 14th |
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 Mecca: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Oasis 5 mi · Thermal 5 mi · Vista Santa Rosa 9 mi · Coachella 9 mi · North Shore 10 mi · Desert Shores 12 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 Mecca (33.5766, -116.0647); 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.