Find Bees
Looking for bee packages, queens, or nucs? If you're in Cache Valley or northern Utah, start with the local suppliers below. They offer pickup options, shorter wait times, and bees already adapted to our climate. For shipped packages and queens, see the national suppliers further down.
Order early. Local nucs and packages sell out fast, often by February or March. Don't wait until spring.
When to Order Bees in Cache Valley
In northern Utah, the common mistake isn't picking the wrong supplier, it's ordering too late. Packages, nucs, and queens move on different timelines. Here's a month-by-month view of what's usually available and what to do next.
| Month | Packages | Nucs | Queens | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Pre-orders open at many suppliers | Best local reservations begin | Some breeders open reservation lists | Pick your hive plan in Start Here, then shortlist suppliers before popular pickup windows fill. |
| February | Prime ordering window for Utah pickup packages | Strong nuc demand; many local sellers start filling out | Queen reservation lists grow quickly | Place your order now and make sure your kit and equipment are already on hand. |
| March | Some package inventory still available, but choices narrow | Late reservations only at many local yards | Early-season shipped queens begin appearing | If your first-choice supplier is sold out, check the backup list below before you get pushed into a rushed install. |
| April | Main pickup month for local packages | Some nuc pickups start late in the month | More consistent queen availability | Confirm pickup dates, prepare feeders, and review your install plan before bees arrive. |
| May | Late package deliveries taper off | Peak nuc pickup month in northern Utah | Strong queen availability for requeening or splits | If you missed packages, a local nuc is often the better beginner reset than forcing a late package start. |
| June | Rare and usually late for a first-year package | Last practical local nuc pickups | Replacement queens still available from many breeders | Only buy this late if you have a clear feeding and buildup plan; otherwise wait and prepare for next spring. |
| July | Not realistic for new package starts here | Usually sold out or too late for beginners | Queens remain the most available bee purchase | Focus on supporting existing colonies and use the season to learn, shop, and plan for next year. |
Local Suppliers: Cache Valley & Northern Utah (Pickup)
Nucs (nucleus colonies) are live bees on frames with brood, honey, and a laying queen. Because of their size and fragility, nucs are almost always pickup only. Local bees are a great choice for Cache Valley beekeepers because they're already acclimated to our Zone 6b climate and cold winters.
IFA Country Stores → Order Bees Online. Multiple locations across UT & ID.
Italian and Carniolan queens, 3-lb packages (~10,000 bees), and 5-frame nucs. Download the order form at your local IFA store or order online. Bees arrive late April–May for pickup at your local branch. The most accessible option for Cache Valley beekeepers, with no shipping required. Order deadline is typically mid-February.
Homer's Honeybee → Visit Website. Layton, UT.
3-lb packages and nucs from local Utah apiaries (900+ hives). Italian/Cordovan and Carniolan mix bred for gentleness. Packages are made locally from their own bees. Pickup in West Jordan and Layton, UT, typically ready in April. Shipping also available for packages.
Deseret Hive Supply → Visit Website. Ogden, UT (1516 Washington Blvd, (801) 866-3245).
Full-service beekeeping shop since 2012. Live bees, complete equipment line, beginner kits, and beekeeping classes. Knowledgeable staff available for in-person advice. One of the best resources in northern Utah for new beekeepers.
The Honey Company → Visit Website. Utah County (Lake Shore / Provo, UT).
Small family farm offering nucs and packages. Nuc pickups in May–June at Lake Shore, UT; package pickup in April at Provo. Limited quantities, so order in winter for best availability. Also offers online beekeeping courses year-round.
Lappe's Bee Supply → Visit Website. East Peru, IA (ships to Utah & Idaho).
Not local pickup, but worth calling out here because free shipping to Utah and Idaho makes it a realistic backup when northern Utah inventory disappears. Best used for queen orders, package bees, or a January backup reservation if your first-choice local yard already looks thin.
Local Clubs, Classes & Help Lines
The best bee source is often the one that comes with a mentor, a realistic pickup plan, and someone local to call when install day gets weird. These Cache Valley and northern Utah groups are worth keeping in the same tab as your supplier shortlist.
| Resource | Area | What it helps with | Best time to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cache Valley Beekeepers Association Facebook group: cachebeekeepers (435) 752-6234 |
Logan + Cache Valley | Mentorship, monthly meetings, swarm coordination, equipment sharing, local nuc leads | Winter through swarm season, especially when you're trying to line up local bees or borrow extraction gear |
| Utah Beekeepers' Association utahbeekeepersassn@gmail.com |
Statewide Utah | Annual conference, summer workshop, master beekeeper program, swarm-network connections | Winter education planning, statewide networking, and when you want support outside Cache Valley too |
| USU Extension Beekeeping Program class schedule |
Logan / northern Utah | Hands-on classes, demonstration apiaries, seasonal planning, Utah-specific beginner education | Late winter and early spring, before you order bees or while you build your first-season checklist |
| Northeast Idaho Beekeepers Association | Franklin County + southeast Idaho | Regional contacts, Idaho-specific community support, nearby keeper network north of the state line | If you're buying bees for Preston, Franklin, or other Idaho-side yards and want state-specific contacts |
Seasonal Notes for Local Bee Buyers
- January-February: Best time to reserve local packages and nucs, join a club, and ask who had strong overwintered stock locally.
- March: Contact suppliers again to confirm pickup cities, queen availability, and whether weather has shifted delivery timing.
- April-May: Main pickup stretch. Double-check install gear, feeders, and transport details a few days before your bees arrive.
- June and later: Treat late bee purchases as a different project, not the same plan you would have run in April. Ask a local mentor whether a nuc still makes sense for your yard.
Order Deadlines by Supplier
Exact dates can shift every season, so treat these as planning targets rather than guarantees. The safe move is to order one step earlier than you think you need.
| Supplier | Typical order cutoff | Typical availability window | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFA Country Stores | Mid-February for best package and nuc selection | Late April to May pickup | Best all-around local option if you want a straightforward pickup process close to Cache Valley. |
| Homer's Honeybee | Late February to early March before local allocations tighten | April package pickups, spring nuc availability | Good for beginners who want Utah-raised bees and a wider pickup network. |
| Deseret Hive Supply | Early March is the safe target for live bee orders | Spring live bee arrivals plus in-store gear support | Useful if you want bees and hands-on equipment help in one stop. |
| The Honey Company | Winter reservation recommended; aim for February on nucs | April packages, May to June nuc pickups | Strong backup plan when you want later nuc timing and are willing to drive a bit farther. |
If local pickup dates don't line up with your spring schedule, check the shipped suppliers below, then weigh that option against your gear, feeding, and inspection readiness. A rushed bee order without the setup behind it creates more beginner problems than it solves.
National Suppliers: Packages & Queens (Shipped)
These suppliers ship packages and queens via USPS or UPS. Packages travel as live bees in a screened box; queens ship alone in a small cage. Good for beginners who miss the local order window, or those looking for specific genetics not available locally.
Mann Lake Bee & Ag Supply. Hackensack, MN (est. 1983).
Packages, nucs, queens (Italian, Carniolan, Russian). Free shipping on all live bee orders. Largest beekeeping supplier in the US.
Olivarez Honey Bees. Orland, CA (50+ years).
Packages, queens (Italian, Saskatraz). Ships via USPS and distributes through authorized dealers nationwide using climate-controlled trailers. Family-owned. Exclusive US source for Saskatraz queens.
Dadant & Sons. Hamilton, IL (est. 1863).
Packages, queens (Italian). America's oldest beekeeping supplier. Family-owned through 7 generations. 11 storefront locations nationwide. Publishes the American Bee Journal.
BeeWeaver Honey Farm. Navasota, TX (~140 years).
Queens (BeeWeaver breed), seasonal packages. 100% treatment-free for varroa since 2000. Ships queens nationwide.
R. Weaver Apiaries. Navasota, TX (est. 1888).
Packages, queens, nucs, established colonies. Oldest family-owned bee operation in Texas. Specializes in Buckfast bees bred for gentleness and productivity.
Mountain Sweet Honey. Toccoa, GA.
Packages (Italian, Carniolan, Caucasian), nucs. Ships to 36 states via USPS. One of the largest bee shippers in the US. 92% repeat customer rate. Managed by natural organic methods.
Lappe's Bee Supply. East Peru, IA (est. 1978).
Packages, queens, nucs (pickup only). Widest breed selection available: Italian, Carniolan, Buckfast, Cordovan, Russian, and more. Queens ship UPS Next Day Air. Family operation.
Rossman Apiaries. Moultrie, GA.
Packages, nucs, queens (Italian). Ships packages via USPS. Known for early-season Italian packages (available late March). Strong dealer network across the country.
Gardner's Apiaries / Spell Bee Co.. Baxley, GA (est. 2000).
Packages, queens (Italian hybrid crossed with Carniolan and Buckfast). Ships continental US. Orders by phone: (912) 367-9352.
Queen Breeders: Queens Only (Shipped)
Wildflower Meadows. Vista, CA (est. 2002).
VSH-Italian queens. Pioneer in Varroa Sensitive Hygiene breeding. Ships via UPS Next Day Air. Sells out quickly each spring.
Strachan Apiaries. Yuba City, CA (est. 1954).
New World Carniolan and Italian queens. World's largest producer of NWC queens. Ships via UPS.
C.F. Koehnen & Sons. Glenn, CA (since the 1930s).
Italian/Cordovan and Carniolan queens. Four-generation family business. Known for extremely gentle, hygienic queens. Orders by phone.
Old Sol Apiaries. Rogue River, OR (est. 1997).
Premium queens from "Survivor Stock" (Minnesota Hygienic, Carniolan, Russian, VSH lines). Ships queens via UPS. Family-run. Emphasis on sustainability and treatment-free practices.
These are independent suppliers we recommend based on their reputation in the beekeeping community. Cache Valley Bee Supply is not affiliated with these companies and does not receive compensation for these referrals.