Go Metro to visit centenarian Victor Jaramillo, guardian of the bees in El Sereno

Bees have stung Victor Jaramillo more than a dozen times. Despite this, he refuses to wear a protective suit when extracting the honey his bees produce. He is not afraid of them because 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 in northeast Los Angeles, where years later he decided to open a honey-selling stand. Today, don Victor is a beloved figure in the El Sereno community, where last June 28, amidst the affection of family and friends, he celebrated his 100th birthday.

His stand, consisting of a sign and a small metal table displaying jars of honey, royal jelly, and pollen is located at 5236 S Huntington Dr., right in front of his house. Having lived there for nearly five decades, his business thrives on the quality of his products, without needing the hustle and bustle of Instagram or TikTok. “We’ve never had social media to promote the honey; I’m here Monday to Saturday from 9 to 5,” says don Victor, whose stand you can find by taking the Metro Line 78 to the Huntington / Lifur bus stop.

At the stand, you can also find peach, blackberry and habanero honey sticks, as well as information about the properties of honey, pollen, and royal jelly.

A honey jar with a special design to commemorate Don Víctor’s 100 years.

The journey to make honey begins when bees start gathering nectar from the flowers, storing it in one of their two stomachs —one is for food and the other, which is a sort of crop, is just to produce honey. The magic unfolds when the bees return to the hive. “The bees pass the nectar from mouth to mouth, and with their enzymes, it transforms into the necessary consistency,” says John Jaramillo, one of don Victor’s sons.

After completing the honey-making process, bees store the honey in honeycombs and seal each hexagon with wax they produce. John explains that during this season, a hive can house up to 60,000 bees.

John paints a vivid picture of the intricate roles within a bee colony. “Worker bees [honeybees] 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 mating with the queen bee. When asked about the role of the queen bee, John emphasizes that each hive usually has one queen, capable of living up to five years, and that her primary role is laying eggs –which is essential for the colony sustainability. “We’re talking about almost 1,500 to 2,000 eggs a day,” he says.

After finishing the honey-making process, the Jaramillos’ proceed to harvest the honey, where up to 50 pounds can be collected in just over a week. However, their work goes beyond collecting honey. They stressed the importance of caring for the hives by regularly checking for ants or wax moths. “Sometimes they also need vitamins… During the drought in California, we had to feed the bees,” says John. “They suffered a lot because they didn’t have enough food. Many of the flowers dried up.”

Victor Jaramillo shows honey (right) and royal jelly (left). / Photo: Mey Mitteenn.

The Jaramillos’ emphasize the urgent need to protect bees due to global warming, highlighting their vital role in food production. Bees are excellent pollinators. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), crops pollinated by bees (such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables) contribute to nearly one-third of the total human diet.

The beekeepers also stress the importance of not harming bees. “Honeybees are very hardworking, but they can get very angry [corajudas],” says don Víctor. “If you attempt to hit them, they might retaliate by stinging you.” A honeybee’s sting is fatal for her. Once a honeybee’s stinger, which works like a harpoon, pierces human skin, it stays stuck there. Within an hour, this results in the bee’s death.

Don Victor’s insights into beekeeping are truly fascinating and he has shared the intricate dynamics of the hives with several of his 15 children. “The bees are also like my daughters,” he says fondly. This nature-loving man also enjoys sharing the honey-making process with his neighbors and customers, who arrive by car or public transportation from Pasadena, Lincoln Heights, Alhambra, and even Pomona. At 100 years old, Don Víctor, who does not consume any sugar, wakes up every day with energy to take care of the bees and uses a cane for support, which he sometimes leaves aside. He also survived a COVID-19 infection and an operation to remove a tumor.

What is his secret to longevity? “Honey,” says don Victor. “It has many healing properties. I consume a little every day.”