community in California
Honey bee forage in Richvale, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 31% of sites in California. Against other California sites it ranks highest in spring (39th percentile) and lowest in fall (10th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.8 mi E); sunflower (nearest 1.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); citrus (nearest 3.5 mi SE).
When is the honey flow in Richvale?
- First forage: Jan 16 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Apr 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Fall flow: May 1 to Jun 15 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Jul 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Richvale, 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 4.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, almonds; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Almonds: about 36 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi E, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Sunflower: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi S, blooms late Apr – late Jun (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 Richvale
Mostly: Rice.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.16 mi W; open water 0.41 mi N.
Things to watch
- Lots of crops with little or no bee value. About 77% of the land within 3 miles is in crops bees get little from (such as wheat and other grains).
How Richvale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 20th | 54th | 9th | 2nd |
| California | 31st | 39th | 31st | 10th |
| Central California Valley | 3rd | 5th | 21st | 37th |
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 Richvale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Biggs 6 mi · Thermalito 8 mi · Gridley 9 mi · Durham 10 mi · Oroville 10 mi · South Oroville 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 Richvale (39.4937, -121.7508); 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.