Victor Jaramillo has been stung by bees more than a dozen times. Despite this, he leaves aside his protective suit when extracting the honey produced by his bees. He is not afraid of them since he has known these insects since he was 3 years old, when his father and grandfather taught him the art of beekeeping in his native Zacatecas, Mexico.
In 1946, he arrived in Northern California and later moved to El Sereno, a neighborhood northeast of Los Angeles where years later he decided to start selling honey. Today, Don Victor is a beloved figure in the community of El Sereno, where on June 28, amid the affection of family and friends, he celebrated his 100th birthday.
Her small stand, consisting of a sign and a small metal table displaying jars of honey, royal jelly and pollen, is located on the 5236 S. block of Huntington Dr., right in front of her home.
Having lived there for nearly five decades, her business thrives on the quality of her products and without the hustle and bustle of Instagram or TikTok.
“We’ve never had social media to promote honey… I’m here Monday through Saturday from 9 to 5,” says Don Victor, whose stand can be found by taking Metro bus line 78 to the Huntington/Lifur stop.
The journey to produce honey begins when bees collect nectar from flowers, which they store in one of their two stomachs—one is for food and the other, which is a kind of crop, is only for producing honey.
The magic begins when the bees return to the hive. “They begin to pass the nectar from mouth to mouth and when it mixes with the enzymes they have, they make it take on the necessary consistency,” says John Jaramillo, one of Don Victor’s sons.
After completing this process, the bees put the honey into various hexagons of the honeycomb and seal it with the wax they produce themselves. John explains that during this season, a hive can house up to 60,000 bees.
In addition, it describes in detail the roles that bees play within their colonies. “Worker bees [honeybees] “They are all female,” he says. “They can live up to four months and work until they die.”
In contrast, male bees, known as drones, do not contribute to honey production; their sole purpose is to mate with the queen bee. When asked about the role of the queen bee, John emphasizes that each hive typically has one queen, capable of living up to five years, and that her primary function is to lay eggs—which is essential to the sustainability of the colony. “We’re talking about almost 1,500 to 2,000 eggs per day,” he says.
After finishing the honey-making process, the Jaramillos move on to harvesting the honey, where they can collect up to 50 pounds in just over a week. However, their work goes beyond collecting honey. “We have to be vigilant,” they say. “We have to check the hives periodically to prevent ants or wax moths from getting in… Sometimes we also have to give them vitamins.” During the drought in California, the Jaramillos had to feed the bees. “They suffered a lot because they didn’t have enough food. Many of the flowers dried up,” says John.
The Jaramillos emphasize the urgent need to protect bees in the face of global warming and highlight the vital role they play in food production. “Bees are excellent pollinators,” they say. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), bee-pollinated crops (such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables) contribute to nearly one-third of the total human diet.
Don Victor also highlights the importance of not harming bees.
“They are very hard-working, but they can also be very courageous,” she says. “If you try to swat them, they might get angry and come back to sting you.” It is worth noting that a bee sting is fatal for this insect. Once it stings, its stinger gets stuck in the skin. When this part falls off the bee, it dies within an hour.
Don Victor’s knowledge of beekeeping is fascinating and he has shared it with several of his 15 children.
“Bees are like my daughters, too,” he says fondly. The nature-loving man also likes to share his honey-making process with his neighbors and customers, who come by car and public transportation from Pasadena, Lincoln Heights, Alhambra and even Pomona.
At 100 years old, Don Victor — who does not consume a single grain of sugar — gets up every day to work and sometimes uses a cane to walk. He also survived a COVID infection and an operation to remove a tumor.
What is your secret to longevity?
“Honey,” says Don Victor. “It has many healing properties. I consume a little bit every day.”
Honey from Victor Jaramillo
- Place: 5236 S Huntington Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032
- You can pay for items with cash or through the Zelle or Venmo apps.
- How to get there by Metro?: Take the 78 bus and get off at Huntington/Lifur.