First Lady Melania Trump showcased the expansion of the White House honey program by unveiling a new beehive on the South Lawn. The beehive, modeled in the image of the White House, adds two new bee colonies to the existing two producing White House honey.
The new hive is expected to contribute an additional 30 pounds of honey to be used in “preparing White House culinary dishes, serving as official gifts from the President and the First Lady, and supporting charitable donations of healthy foods to local food kitchens,” the White House said. The hive will also support existing colonies in pollinating the White House gardens and vegetation while further serving as an educational tool offering “potential opportunities for visitors on the South Lawn to get a closer look at a working colony and learn about pollination and food production firsthand.”
The White House beekeeping and hives began in 2009 when White House Carpenter Charlie Brandt took it up as a hobby. It has since become a tradition.
According to the White House, the existing two hives can have as many as 70,000 bees during the summer months, producing 200-225 pounds of honey. The honey is known for its “light clover and basswood flavor, with a subtle hint of citrus,” and is used to “sweeten teas, prepare salad dressings, and craft desserts.”
A page from the National Park Service explains that the White House Kitchen Garden, where the initial bee colony can be found, was planted by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009.
