A surge in bee deaths is hurting Texas beekeepers — and could affect the price of produce

Luis Hernandez, a beekeeper with Frio Country Farms in Davis, shows an empty bee frame from a hive where the bees have died at the Noria bee yard on Feb. 25, 2025. Beekeepers nationwide are experiencing their highest honey bee losses in decades, which has large implications for Texas. (Credit: Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune)

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Since starting their beekeeping business southwest of San Antonio in late 2019, the Wheeler family has aimed to produce about 3,000 bee colonies each year, many of which are used to pollinate crops like watermelons and pumpkins.