Post-Almond Season Strategy: Where to Go After California

The six to eight weeks after almond pollination are the most logistically demanding period of the year. You've just moved your entire fleet into California's Central Valley, collected your season's biggest single revenue event, and now you have to get those hives out - and immediately productive somewhere else.

Most operators know what to do in February. What separates the well-run operations from the scrambling ones is having the post-almond plan locked before the trucks roll into California.

TL;DR

California almond pollination consumes roughly 80% of the US commercial hive population every February, making it the most supply-constrained pollination market in the country.
Per-hive rates have held between $185 and $220 for 6-8 frame colonies over recent seasons.
Contracts are typically signed October through November for the following February season; operators without agreements by December are working from a weak position.
Hive strength minimums range from 6 to 8 frames of bees depending on the grower, with premium-strength colonies commanding $200-215/hive.
varroa management, documentation, and logistics coordination in the 6-8 weeks before delivery determine whether almond season is profitable or a breakeven event.

Why the Almond Exit Period Is Logistically Complex

The almond exit crunch comes from several converging pressures:

Every commercial beekeeper leaves at the same time: When almond bloom ends in mid-March, over a million hives start moving simultaneously. Trucks are expensive and in demand. Drivers are tired from the delivery push. State border crossings get congested with the volume of outbound movement.

Colony condition varies: Some hives come out of almonds strong. Others are stressed from high-density placement, pesticide exposure, poor forage between orchards, or Varroa pressure that built through the season. The exit period is when you assess what you're working with and make routing decisions based on actual colony condition, not what you planned in November.

Your next contracts have hard delivery windows: Washington apples open in late April. Pacific Northwest cherry peaks in late April through May. Michigan blueberry starts in May. If your hives aren't ready, and delivered on time, you're in breach of your next contracts.

Recovery time is limited: Colonies coming off almonds benefit from a 2-4 week recovery period in good forage before the next demanding pollination contracts. Finding the right holding location during that window is part of the exit strategy.

The Primary Post-Almond Destinations

Pacific Northwest cherry and apple (most common)

The most common exit routing for operations with Pacific Northwest contracts: out of California in mid-to-late March, into Oregon and Washington staging areas, delivery to cherry yards in late March through April.

The geographic flow makes sense: north out of California on I-5 or US-97, into the Rogue Valley (Oregon pear starts in late March), up to the Yakima Valley or Wenatchee for main cherry season in April-May.

Washington apples begin roughly 6 weeks after California almonds - that gap is your transition window. It allows 2-4 weeks of recovery time in a good forage location, plus time for compliance documentation for Washington and Oregon entry.

California cherry and stone fruit (for those staying in state)

Some operators skip the Pacific Northwest entirely and transition to California cherry in the San Joaquin Valley and Modesto area. California cherry bloom runs late March through April in the main production areas. The advantage is staying in state, avoiding Washington and Oregon compliance steps, and keeping trucks in familiar territory.

The disadvantage is that California cherry rates have generally run lower than Pacific Northwest cherry ($60-$90/hive vs $90-$130/hive for Washington sweet cherry), and the California cherry market is more competitive because of proximity.

Staging in the Central Valley or Foothills

Operations that don't have an immediate next contract after almonds sometimes stage hives in the Sierra Nevada foothills (Calaveras, Tuolumne, El Dorado counties) or in Central Valley locations with good spring forage. This allows colony recovery on natural forage - citrus in the south valley, spring wildflowers at elevation - before the next major move.

The foothills are also a reasonable staging area for operations heading to the Pacific Northwest that want to give their fleet 3-4 weeks of natural recovery before loading north.

Direct routing to Midwest

A smaller number of operators skip the Pacific Northwest entirely and move from California directly to the Midwest - Michigan blueberry, Maine wild blueberry (with a long haul), or Ohio and Pennsylvania tree fruit. This routing works for operations without Pacific Northwest contracts and with strong Midwest relationships.

The logistics are more complex (longer haul distances, multiple state crossings) but the markets are real.

Timing the Exit from Each Orchard

Almond growers typically want bees out within 3-7 days of the last petals dropping (petal fall). Keeping hives in almond orchards after bloom ends costs you recovery time and risks exposure to post-bloom pesticide applications.

Don't wait to be asked to leave. Track bloom progress at your orchards and start coordinating pickup timing in the last week of bloom. Early exit enables:

Earlier arrival at staging areas for colony recovery
Earlier delivery to next contracts, reducing the pressure on late-April timelines
Better truck availability (you're not competing with every other operator for trucks the same week)

Colony Assessment Before the Next Move

Coming out of almonds, assess your fleet honestly before committing to your next delivery:

Strength check: How many hives are at or above contracted minimums for your next contracts? Hives below minimum need recovery time and intervention (feeding, queen replacement if needed) before the next placement.

Varroa load: Almond season is a high-stress period for Varroa management. Many operators treat after almond exit, before the next contract. Treatment timing must fit within the window between exit and next delivery, and some treatments require a residue-free interval before honey supers go back on.

Queen status: Hives that came through winter with aging queens may have faltered during the almond season's demand. Requeen weak colonies during the staging period rather than placing substandard hives on cherry or apple contracts.

Disease assessment: Your home state health certificate for the next state crossing requires current inspection. Time your state inspection after your post-almond assessment so the certificate reflects your actual fleet condition.

PollenOps shows your post-almond schedule alongside your next contract delivery dates, so you can see exactly how many days you have for recovery and compliance between almond exit and your next delivery commitment.

Building the Transition Into Your Contract Calendar

The best post-almond transition happens when the next contract is already signed before you leave for California, not while you're trying to exit.

By November of the prior year:

Pacific Northwest cherry and apple contracts signed
Staging yard access confirmed for recovery period
State health certificate inspection scheduled for March
Truck availability confirmed for March-April moves

The operators who struggle in the post-almond period are the ones who arrive in California in February with cherry slots still unconfirmed. By the time almonds are done, the best cherry contracts are gone and you're taking what's left at compressed rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best destinations after California almond pollination?

For most migratory operators, Pacific Northwest cherry and apple (Washington, Oregon) is the primary post-almond destination, with cherry delivery in late March through April and apple delivery following in April-May. California cherry in the San Joaquin Valley is an alternative for those staying in state. Sierra Nevada foothill staging areas provide good colony recovery forage for operations with a gap between almond exit and next contract delivery. The right answer depends on what contracts you've signed and where your next revenue event is.

How do you transition hives from almonds to the next crop efficiently?

Plan the exit timing to leave orchards within 3-7 days of petal fall, before growers apply post-bloom pesticide programs. Stage hives in a good forage location for 2-4 weeks of recovery before the next demanding pollination contract. Use the staging period for Varroa treatment, queen assessment, and strength evaluation. Get your state health certificate inspection completed during the staging period so you're compliant for the next state crossing. All of this works better when the next contract delivery date is already confirmed before you leave for California.

What is the typical timeline from almond exit to next contract delivery?

A common timeline for Pacific Northwest routing: almond bloom peaks in late February, petal fall runs mid-March, hives out by March 15-20. Oregon pear opens in late March. Washington lower-elevation cherry opens in late March to early April. Washington main cherry season peaks in April-May. That gives roughly 2-4 weeks between almond exit and first Pacific Northwest cherry delivery - enough for recovery but not much margin for delays. Operations without tight Pacific Northwest commitments may take 4-6 weeks in a staging location before their next contract delivery date.

How early should almond pollination contracts be negotiated?

Large almond growers and broker networks begin securing hive commitments in July and August for the following February season. Written contracts are typically signed October through November. Operators who do not have signed agreements by December are working from a weak position since most quality hive inventory is already committed. Start grower outreach in mid-summer and target signed agreements before Thanksgiving.

What documentation is required for hive delivery to California almonds?

California requires a Certificate of Health for out-of-state colonies, issued by the origin state's apiary inspection program within 30 days of entry. The certificate must certify freedom from American foulbrood, European foulbrood, and Varroa destructor below treatment threshold. Some states require small hive beetle freedom for California entry. In addition, many growers now expect documentation of pre-delivery mite counts confirming colonies are below threshold.

What happens to hives after almond season ends in late March?

Post-almond options include moving north for Pacific Northwest cherry or apple pollination in April-May, routing to Michigan or Maine blueberries in May-July, transitioning to summer honey yards in North Dakota or Montana, or staying in California for splits and rebuilding. The right choice depends on hive strength coming out of almonds and downstream contract commitments. Operators who plan their full-year circuit in advance can optimize both pollination revenue and honey production.

Sources

USDA Agricultural Research Service
Bee Informed Partnership
American Beekeeping Federation (ABF)
Almond Board of California
University of California Cooperative Extension

Get Started with PollenOps

Almond season is the revenue event that defines the commercial beekeeping year, and the details -- contract terms, delivery timing, hive strength documentation, and invoicing -- determine whether the season is profitable. PollenOps manages the full almond contract lifecycle from quote to final payment, with yard tracking, crew scheduling, and grower communication built in. See how it works for operations from 200 to 5,000 hives.