Skip to main content

The Expo Honey Bee Project

The Expo Honey Bee Project represents the culmination of a long-held vision shared by our team members, many of whom come from farming backgrounds or have developed a deep appreciation for the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. This initiative was born from our collective concern about the challenges facing honey bee populations due to climate change and colony collapse disorder.

Portland Expo Center honey label with a bee illustration. Reads: Made with Love in North PDX. Honey harvested at Portland Expo Center, est. 2021.

Honey Harvest 2023

Jars of honey labeled ‘Harvested at Portland Expo Center’ with wooden honey dippers tied on.
Close-up of a honeybee on the edge of a hive with honeycomb in the background.
Two beekeepers in protective suits inspecting a white hive box at the Portland Expo Center.
Gloved beekeeper holding a frame of honeycomb filled with bees and capped honey.
Beekeeper lifting a hive lid covered with bees.
Beekeeper and staff in protective suits inspecting a hive at the Portland Expo Center.

From Concept to Community Partnership

Our journey began with extensive preparation and community collaboration. Working closely with the beekeepers at Bridgetown Bees, Rob Hamrick from CMPO, and our dedicated staff, we laid the groundwork by attending educational classes offered by local non-profits, investing in essential equipment, and coordinating with professional beekeepers to ensure our project's success.

After careful consideration of the optimal location for our hives, the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily put our ambitious project on hold. However, our commitment never wavered.

Partnership with Bridgetown Bees

In 2021, the Expo Bee Project officially launched through our partnership with Bridgetown Bees, a respected local Northeast Portland beekeeper and honey producer. By 2022, we reconnected with Glen Andresen from Bridgetown Bees to establish our apiary on campus.

Our honey bees are selectively bred to thrive year-round in the Pacific Northwest climate, perfectly adapted to forage nectar and pollen from the abundant native wetlands that surround the Expo Center. The hives are securely fenced while maintaining full access for the bees to continue their essential work of collecting pollen and nectar from our rich local ecosystem.

Sweet Results

Our harvests have exceeded expectations:

  • 2022: Our inaugural harvest yielded 80 pounds of premium local honey
  • 2023: Our second harvest produced an impressive 120 pounds of honey
  • 2024: Nature had other plans for our industrious colony. They moved out! As Glen likes to joke, they left without giving us any notice – whether due to the queen's passing or simply seeking new territory, our bees decided to relocate. While we were sad to see them go, this is part of the natural cycle that sometimes occurs with bee colonies, resulting in no honey harvest that year.
  • 2025: We're back in business! With a new colony established, we're preparing for our September harvest, and Glen is optimistically predicting a yield of 70 pounds of honey.

This locally-produced honey serves multiple purposes, from thoughtful gifts for clients and partners to planned culinary applications. We're excited about upcoming collaborations with Levy to incorporate our honey into dipping sauces, bakery items, and other innovative food offerings.

Environmental Impact and Mission

Addressing a Critical Challenge: Our project directly responds to the alarming decline in honey bee populations. Since 2006, honeybees have been dying at unsustainable rates, threatening food security since honeybee pollination is critical to cultivating over one-third of America's food supply.

Commitment to Sustainability: This initiative exemplifies our dedication to environmental stewardship and our recognition of the critical role honey bees play in pollination and ecosystem health. By collaborating with Bridgetown Bees, the Expo Center not only contributes to environmental well-being but also enriches our local community.

A Model for Urban-Nature Integration

The Expo Bee Project aligns perfectly with the Expo Center's commitment to fostering green and vibrant spaces. This visionary initiative showcases how thoughtful intersection of nature and urban planning can create positive environmental impact. Our three campus hives serve as a living example of how urban spaces can support vital ecosystems.

The honey produced through this harmonious collaboration between the Expo Center and Bridgetown Bees stands as a sweet testament to our shared values, connecting our facility with the fundamental importance of bees in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Looking Forward

As we continue this important work, the Expo Honey Bee Project remains a cornerstone of our sustainability efforts, demonstrating how partnerships with local experts can create meaningful environmental impact while supporting our community's agricultural heritage and ecological future.