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Major source of premium aromatic mint-infused summer Basswood honey
Wisconsin Honey Directory
Your Complete Guide to Fresh, Local Honey
Wisconsin’s honey scene is a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural identity. It is a major producer of white clover honey, but its unique specialty is Cranberry honey, harvested from the massive bogs of central Wisconsin. Wisconsin beekeepers also prize the mid-summer Basswood flow, which produces a light, aromatic honey with a signature hint of mint.
What Sets Wisconsin Apart
Wisconsin Honey Scene Highlights
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Critical provider of migratory pollination services for massive central cranberry bogs
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Voluntary inspection model with no mandatory state-level hive registration
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Hosts the historic Wisconsin Honey Producers Association, active since 1864
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Strict municipal permit frameworks across major urban hubs like Milwaukee
Local Varietals
Honey Types Found in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Bee & Honey Profile
State Flower
Wood Violet
State Bee
Honey Bee
Honey Color
Extra-light amber from legume fields, shifting to a beautiful water-white with green undertones from blooming forest basswood.
Peak Harvest
July, August, September
Primary Nectar Plants
White CloverCranberry BlossomBasswoodSweet CloverAlfalfaGoldenrodAsterDandelion
Wisconsin Bloom Calendar
Interactive year-round nectar flow guide
Peak nectar flow: June, July
Bloom Calendar
Seasonal Nectar Flow
Click any month on the wheel to explore local forage details.
Minimal / Baseline
Moderate Flow
Peak Nectar Flow
Moderate Flow
May
Hive populations surge as foothill orchards, apple blossoms, wild berries, and dandelions across the central valleys provide a steady maintenance flow to feed expanding brood nests.
The Wisconsin Honey Story
Centuries of dairy and specialty crop agriculture define the vibrant apicultural industry across the Badger State, linking honey production to some of the most fertile soils in the Upper Midwest. Local environments present a beautiful contrast between the massive, saturated central cranberry marshes and the sweeping mixed hardwood forests of the north. Operators must balance their systems to survive deep, moisture-laden winters, carefully prepping hives to emerge strong by late spring. Sideliners capitalize on a magnificent progression of floral sources, positioning bee yards to transition smoothly from early marsh crops into heavy summer timber flows.
Fun Fact
Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries in the United States, and every year tens of thousands of honeybee colonies are trucked directly into the flooded central bogs to pollinate the crop, yielding a unique, tart-finishing cranberry honey.
From the Blog
Honey Knowledge
Recipes & Culinary
Honey Syrup for Cocktails
A five-minute honey syrup that blends seamlessly into shaken and stirred drinks — all the floral depth of raw honey, none of the clumping.
By Art Marks
Recipes & Culinary
Bee's Knees Cocktail
The classic Prohibition-era gin sour, sweetened with honey syrup instead of sugar.
By Art Marks
Recipes & Culinary
Honey Hot Toddy
Whiskey, honey, lemon, and hot water — the cold-weather classic.
By Art Marks
Wisconsin Honey Production
By the Numbers
#13
National Rank
by honey production
2.8M lbs
Annual Honey
USDA NASS 2023 Honey Report
62,000
Managed Colonies
USDA NASS 2023 Honey Report
3,000
Registered Beekeepers
The official metrics reported by federal agricultural systems track commercial operators holding five or more colonies inside Wisconsin borders. Because the state supports a huge population of small-scale backyard hobbyists running one to four hives on small dairy plots and home gardens, the actual volume of honey produced and colonies managed is far higher than censuses show.
Featured Apiaries in Wisconsin
Connect with these premier honey producers for the best local experience
Upcoming Honey Events in Wisconsin
Don't miss these exciting honey and beekeeping events in Wisconsin
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Beekeeping Regulations
Hive Registrationno
Backyard Beekeepingvaries by municipality
Min. Hive Setback10 ft
Wisconsin state law does not require beekeepers to register their honeybee colonies with the government. However, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) enforces strict mandatory import reporting rules and health certifications for any hives or used equipment crossing into state boundaries.
Associations & Resources
Wisconsin Honey Producers Association
StatewideVisit WebsiteOrganized in 1864, the WHPA represents commercial and hobbyist apiaries statewide, manages the Wisconsin Honey Queen program, and collaborates directly with the UW-Madison Extension to offer advanced wintering courses.
Central Wisconsin Beekeepers Association
Visit WebsiteState Dept. of Agriculture
Apiary ProgramWisconsin Geography & Climate
Climate Zones
Humid Continental Warm SummerHumid Continental Cool Summer
Notable Beekeeping Regions
- •Central Sands Cranberry Bogs
- •Champlain Valley
- •Driftless Area
- •Fox River Valley
Elevation Range
579 feet (Lake Michigan) to 1,951 feet (Timms Hill)
Wisconsin encompasses a glaciated terrain defined by rolling prairies, rich alluvial river valleys, and dense northern pine forests. Managing bees successfully here requires careful planning around high humidity levels during winter storage to prevent internal condensation and mold, which remains a primary vector for colony loss during long freezes.