Earlier this week, Brandyn and I had the opportunity to tour a handful of hives at Hive Riot Honey, and we walked away with a completely new appreciation for what it actually takes to make truly local honey.
Tucked into a surprisingly peaceful pocket of Keller, Texas, Hive Riot feels almost hidden in plain sight. You wind through a growing suburban area, make a few turns, and suddenly find yourself standing beside a beautiful barn surrounded by active beehives humming with life. It’s the kind of place that reminds you that even in rapidly growing parts of North Texas, incredible agriculture and stewardship are still happening right under our noses.
But what made the experience so memorable wasn’t just the setting…it was the people and the care behind the honey.
Meet Marco, the Master Beekeeper
Our guide for the day was Marco, Hive Riot’s master beekeeper. If you ever have the chance to tour the hives and spend time learning from him, do it.
Marco has years of beekeeping experience across multiple states and has even helped manage operations with over 15,000 hives in Washington. His knowledge is immense, but what stood out most to us was the level of attentiveness and pride he carries for every single hive.
Watching Marco work felt less like observing a process and more like watching someone read an ecosystem in real time.
He would open a hive and immediately begin interpreting what was happening inside - where the brood was developing, how the honey stores were building, how active the workers were, what the colony might need next.
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At one point he paused and said something along the lines of:
“I think the queen might be on this frame.” He lifted it out—and sure enough, there she was. The pride on his face when he spotted her was unmistakable. He carefully showed us the queen and explained how strong and healthy she was, pointing out the signs that told him the hive was thriving. You could tell this wasn’t just routine work for him. He was genuinely proud of what these bees were producing and the health of the colony he helps care for every day. That pride shows up in the honey. |
A Craft That Requires Real Work
One thing that became very clear during the tour is just how much work goes into producing honey responsibly.
It’s easy to think of honey as something simple: bees collect nectar, honey appears in a jar. But the reality is that maintaining healthy colonies requires constant observation, care, and decision-making. Hundreds of ongoing decisions.
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Marco regularly inspects each hive frame by frame, monitoring the colony’s health, food stores, brood patterns, and overall activity. If something is off, he catches it early. If the bees need more space or support, adjustments are made. And all of it is done with one priority first: the health of the bees. Hive Riot’s approach is intentionally sustainable. Their practices prioritize strong, resilient colonies rather than maximizing short-term honey yields. The bees come first, because without healthy bees, there is no honey at all. |
From Hive to JarAfter exploring the hives outside, we also got to see the next step: how the honey is extracted and bottled. The extraction space was incredibly clean and organized. Frames are carefully removed, spun to release the honey, filtered, and then bottled. It’s a process that requires both precision and patience. Nothing about it is rushed. Every step reflects the same level of care we saw in the hives. The Burton family and Marco clearly treat honey production as a craft; one that deserves attention to detail and respect for the bees that make it possible. |
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What “Local Honey” Actually Means
Hive Riot is also doing something that sets them apart from most honey you’ll find on store shelves: they are genuinely local.
Most of us have heard that eating local honey can help with seasonal allergies, energy levels, and overall wellness. The reasoning is that bees gather pollen from plants in your environment, which can help your body gradually adapt to those allergens.
But here’s something we recently noticed that surprised us.
Last weekend, I was walking through a well-known, very high-end grocery store in DFW and saw a honey labeled “local.” Naturally, I picked it up to see where it came from.
It wasn’t local at all (IMO).
That jar was produced in Austin…several hours away. Another was about two hours away. None of the honey on the shelf came from DFW.
Technically, though, the store wasn’t wrong.
The USDA defines “local” as anything within 400 miles, which could stretch from North Texas all the way to Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, or even parts of Mexico.
Hive Riot takes a much stricter approach.
Their hives are located right here in North Texas, currently throughout Tarrant and Denton Counties, with expansion into Wise and Parker Counties underway. As they grow, they’re doing so intentionally - keeping their hives within the ecosystems that their honey is meant to represent.
If you’re curious about what truly defines local honey, Hive Riot actually wrote a great breakdown explaining it: “What Does Local Honey Actually Mean?”
A Few Fascinating Bee Facts
Spending time in the hives also reminds you just how incredible bees really are.
When you realize how much work goes into every jar, it makes honey feel a lot less like a commodity, and a lot more like a marvel.
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Why This Matters
Experiences like this are exactly why we’re building The Local Markethouse.
Food isn’t just something that appears on a shelf. It’s ecosystems, craftsmanship, stewardship, and people who care deeply about doing things the right way.
Hive Riot Honey is a perfect example of that.
Their work is thoughtful, sustainable, and rooted right here in North Texas, and we feel incredibly grateful to be able to share their honey and their story.
If you ever get the chance to visit the hives, take it.
Talk with Marco.
Watch the bees at work.
Taste the honey.
You’ll never look at it the same way again.
