Bee One With Nature

Posted on Apr 16

Don Popp's Buzzing Business

When it comes to all things bees and honey, there’s no one quite like Don Popp. What started as a simple favor for a friend turned into a lifelong passion — and eventually, a buzzing business. From falling in love with his first hive to building a thriving honey operation with over 1,500 beehives, Don has become a beloved local beekeeper whose honey is now found in major grocery stores and farmers markets across the region.

Buzzing Beginning

Don Popp’s journey into beekeeping started with a simple favor. A friend needed a place to put a beehive, and Don offered up space on his farm. As soon as the hive was in place, Don was hooked. He spent hours watching the bees work, fascinated by their activity and the way they moved in and out of the hive.

Not long after, another friend — an experienced beekeeper — taught Don the basics of beekeeping and eventually sold him his hives. What began as a small, unexpected interest quickly turned into a new career path.

Don Popp's Honey Farm

As Don's beekeeping skills grew, so did his honey supply — and soon, he had more than he knew what to do with. Looking for a way to share it, he walked into a local Kroger and asked to speak with the store manager about carrying his honey. That first conversation opened the door, and it wasn’t long before calls started coming in from Jungle Jim’s International Market, Whole Foods, and nearby farm markets, all interested in stocking his product.

Realizing it was time to give his operation an official name, Don kept it simple and personal — Don Popp’s Honey Farm.

With the business picking up speed, Don brought his daughter on board to help manage the digital side of things. Her tech skills gave the brand an even stronger foundation, and together they continued to grow what had started with just one hive.

Bee Mindful

One thing Don often hears from visitors is how surprised they are by the bees themselves. "They are not as mean as people believe they are," he says. "They won't just sting you unless somebody is messing with their hive."

To help people better understand bees — and appreciate the important role they play — Don hosts an annual open house at Don Popp’s Honey Farm on the first Saturday in August. The event gives visitors a chance to see beekeeping in action, ask questions, and learn directly from Don and his team.

From extracting honey to bottling it up, the farm is in full production mode that day, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into producing local honey — and how vital, and gentle, bees truly are.

Honey, Honey

Today, Don manages over 1,500 beehives on his farm — a thriving operation that can produce more than 100,000 pounds of honey each year. He focuses on a single variety: clover honey, which is harvested just once annually, starting in July and typically wrapping up by mid-September.

But the bees don’t stay put year-round. During the colder months, Don sends his hives to California, where they help pollinate almond orchards. It’s a win-win: the bees stay active, and their pollination work supports one of the country’s biggest agricultural industries.

From Ohio to California and back again, Don Popp’s bees stay busy — just like their beekeeper.