Meet one of the beekeepers behind the biggest pollination event in the world

ByTim Sarquis
Monday, April 13, 2026 6:30PM
Meet a beekeeper behind one of the world's biggest pollination events

FRESNO, Calif. -- Once a year, California's Central Valley is home to one of the largest pollination events in the world. It wouldn't be possible without the humble honeybee, and the beekeepers who care for them.

"I would not have a crop if it wasn't for the honeybee," says Ryan Jacobsen, almond farmer and CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau.

Fourth generation apiarist Davey Blair, of D&C Apiaries, is one of those beekeepers.

"I've been doing bees since I was five years old," he says.

According to Jacobsen, an estimated 75% to 90% of the nation's honeybees are transported to California yearly for the season's 6-day bloom which comprises over 100 million almond trees.

"Nothing gets the bees going better than places where they can get flowers, get on a flow and that's really the best thing for them to keep them healthy," Blair says of the bees' involvement in cross-pollinating the almond trees. "Natural pollen and natural nectar."

"I feel like there's so much that people don't understand and see. 'Secrets of the Bees' shows kind of the live look in of beekeepers and the bees, what we're doing all year," Blair adds.

National Geographic's "Secrets of the Bees" is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Disney is the parent company of ABC Localish and this station.