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Massachusetts

Honey bee forage and the honey flow in Massachusetts

Across 248 towns in Massachusetts, the main honey flow typically runs from about Apr 16 to Jul 15, peaking around May 8. First forage worth flying for comes around Mar 1, and the season ends around Sep 30. Few towns show a dearth in a typical year.

What makes the honey in Massachusetts

Most common honey plants across the state's towns: clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster).

Most common bee crops within flight range of towns: corn, sweet corn, cranberries, alfalfa, apples, soybeans.

How the state's towns rank: the median town sits at the 58th percentile of random land across the US.

State-wide figures are medians over the towns below, each scored at its Census center point. Your own spot can differ a lot; check it.

The national forage map over Massachusetts: darker is more forage for honey bees. Tap anywhere for that spot's report, or open the national map.

Best and lowest of the state's sample

Of 3,000 random land points in Massachusetts: the best is near Newton, MA (84th percentile in the US); the lowest is near Boston, MA. All notable spots.

Every town in Massachusetts

248 cities, towns, villages, boroughs and census-designated communities, each with its honey flow dates, honey plants, bee crops and ranking.

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

    A

    B

    C

    D

    • Danvers community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Dedham community · flow Apr 1 to Jul 15
    • Deerfield community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 31
    • Dennis community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Dennis Port community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Devens community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15
    • Dover community · flow Apr 1 to Jun 30
    • Duxbury community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15

    E

    F

    G

    H

    I

    • Ipswich community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15

    K

    • Kingston community · flow Apr 16 to Jul 15

    L

    M

    N

    O

    P

    Q

    • Quincy city · flow Apr 1 to Jul 15

    R

    S

    T

    U

    • Upton community · flow Apr 1 to Jun 30

    V

    W

    Y

    Estimates from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources · Other states.