Honey is created by bees regurgitating flower nectar-containing stomach contents. Bees collect nectar from flowers, store it in honey stomachs. Honey production occurs from early spring to late summer. US top honey producers include North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Florida and California
Honey bees originated in South and Southeast Asia, with only 8 surviving species. Humans introduced honey bees to Americas, North America and Australia. Only two domesticated species: western honey bee (A. mellifera) and eastern honey bee (A. cerana)
Beehive is an enclosed structure for honey bee colonies. Nest refers to natural or exposed bee colonies, hive to artificial structures. Western and eastern honey bees are main species kept in hives
Honey bees are social insects native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. They have been producing honey for over 100 million years. There are 26 recognized subspecies worldwide
Italian bees are most common, producing large colonies and being good honey producers. Carniolan bees are darker, gentle, and better suited for wet climates. Caucasian bees are grey-brown, long-tongued, and considered gentlest. Russian bees are imported from Primorsky region, showing some mite resistance. Buckfast bees are mix of races, resistant to tracheal mites
Global natural honey exports reached $2.13 billion in 2023. Exports increased 7.2% since 2019, down 20.5% from 2022. Top 5 exporters generated 45% of total international sales