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A closer look at one vendor's experience helps put the numbers above into perspective.
When John Jasmin first started keeping bees 12 years ago, he had just four or five hives, enough to produce honey for himself. Inspired to start this hobby by a local beekeeper in his 90s, John quickly discovered that there was a tremendous amount to learn. “But that’s what made it fascinating,” he shared.
Many new beekeepers lose hives their first winter. John’s all survived, and that early success gave him confidence to expand his business, Bash Bish Honey. When the Hillsdale Farmers Market needed a honey vendor in 2018, he scaled up in a big way, growing from a handful of hives to 75 spread, across his property and neighbors’ land.
Customers often comment that his honey tastes different and better than any other they’ve had. The secret: abundant black locust trees. Nectar from their fragrant white blossoms gives his honey its distinct flavor.
In 2025, John joined Berkshire Grown’s Winter Farmers Market. He didn’t know what to expect. “I thought it might be a small, sleepy market,” he shared. “But once the doors opened, I was surprised by how busy it was and how much I made in a short time.”
He was struck by the energy in the Housy Dome. “There were young families, neighbors greeting each other, customers moving from vendor to vendor. It felt like a celebration of community,” he reflected. For John, that sense of connection matters. “Beekeeping can be lonely work. Thankfully, being a vendor is not.”
Now John is planning to expand to 100 hives, the scale that will allow his business to fully support itself. With a monthly opportunity to connect with new Berkshire customers and a reliable channel to sell his honey, Berkshire Grown’s Winter Farmers Market is helping John’s business grow—one delicious jar at a time.
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