Desert Farms Apiary

Tri-Cities Honey. Pure and Simple.

Welcome to Desert Farms Apiary, a veteran-owned apiary proudly rooted in the Tri-Cities region of Washington State. Inspired by the rugged beauty of our Flat Top Hill location, the surrounding Horse Heaven Hills and Rattlesnake Mountains, and the agricultural heritage of the Columbia Basin, our products are crafted with care, patience, and respect for the natural world.

We believe in responsible beekeeping, healthy pollinators, and producing simple, honest hive products that reflect the unique character of Eastern Washington. Every jar of honey, every block of beeswax, and every handcrafted product begins with our commitment to stewardship, sustainability, and the remarkable work of the honeybee.

From our hives to your table, we are proud to share a taste of the Pacific Northwest—crafted by nature, guided by tradition, and harvested with purpose.

Close-up of a honeycomb with worker bees on it.

What We Do

At Desert Farms Apiary, we are dedicated to responsible beekeeping, pollinator stewardship, and producing high-quality hive-based products inspired by the agricultural heritage of the Tri-Cities. Rooted in the high desert environment of the Columbia Basin, our mission is to support healthy honeybee populations while providing locally crafted products that reflect the values of sustainability, craftsmanship, and community.

Beekeeping & Hive Management

Our primary focus is the careful management and stewardship of honeybee colonies using sustainable and responsible beekeeping practices. We believe healthy bees are essential not only to honey production, but also to agriculture, pollination, and environmental health throughout the Pacific Northwest.

A small glass jar filled with amber-colored liquid placed on a wooden surface with a dark background.

Two yellow candles and a glass candle holder next to a small cardboard box-shaped candle holder with a metal handle, all placed on a white surface.

Close-up of a large bar of yellow soap with a smooth surface, resting on a beige surface.

Honey & Hive-Based Products

Desert Farms Apiary produces and plans to offer a variety of locally inspired hive-based products sourced from responsibly managed colonies in the Columbia Basin region including:

• Raw honey
• Handcrafted beeswax candles
• Honey-based soaps

Veteran & Community Engagement

Desert Farms Apiary was founded on principles of service, integrity, and community. As a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, we are proud to support veteran involvement in accessible agriculture and beekeeping while encouraging opportunities for education, wellness, and meaningful connection to the land.

Justin Strait

Founder & Head Beekeeper

Desert Farms Apiary was founded by Justin Strait, a Tri-Cities native, U.S. Air Force veteran, and graduate of the Heroes to Hives program. After retiring from more than two decades of military and federal service, Justin returned home to Eastern Washington looking for a way to stay active, continue learning, and build something meaningful in retirement.

What began as an interest in beekeeping and the vital role pollinators play in our environment evolved into Desert Farms Apiary—a small, veteran-owned apiary dedicated to responsible hive management, pollinator stewardship, and producing high-quality local honey. As a service-disabled veteran, Justin is also passionate about promoting accessible agriculture and demonstrating that farming and beekeeping can provide rewarding opportunities for veterans and individuals of all abilities.

Located near Flat Top Hill in West Richland, our bees forage across a diverse landscape of wildflowers, agricultural blooms, and native plants that help create the unique character of our honey.

Desert Farms Apiary is intentionally small and community-focused. Every hive is managed with care, every harvest is handled responsibly, and every jar reflects our commitment to quality, sustainability, and the agricultural heritage of the Columbia Basin.

Thank you for supporting local agriculture, healthy pollinator populations, and veteran-owned small businesses.

A man with a beard and mustache wearing a flat cap, white shirt, and vest, standing in front of framed photographs on a wall, with one photograph showing a woman.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Our Home in the Columbia Basin

Desert Farms Apiary is located on 2.4 acres near Flat Top Hill in West Richland, Washington. Perched above the Columbia Basin, our property sits within a landscape shaped by rolling hills, agricultural fields, native shrubs, and seasonal wildflowers that support pollinators throughout the growing season.

This unique location provides our bees access to a diverse range of forage sources while allowing us to maintain a small, community-focused apiary dedicated to responsible hive management and environmental stewardship.

As we establish our apiary, we are committed to creating a healthy habitat for honeybees and other pollinators while preserving the natural character of the land we call home.