Anselmo Rivas has spent much of his life working in agriculture, from tending his family’s farm as a teenager in Mexico to managing apple orchards in the Pajaro Valley. He now owns and operates Rivas Bees.
But his passion now, after retiring from a lifetime of farming, is his family’s beekeeping business.
That work earned Rivas recognition as the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau’s 2026 Farmer of the Year. The award, which recognizes farmers who contribute to the community beyond their regular farming duties, was presented during the organization’s 109th annual meeting June 25 at Jacobs Farm del Cabo in Watsonville.
Rivas said the honor came as a surprise, particularly since he retired from the apple industry about a decade ago.
Rivas was traveling in Portugal when Farm Bureau Executive Director Jess Brown sent him a text message with the news. With limited internet access, Rivas did not see the message until that night.
Rivas was born in Milpillas de Allende, Zacatecas, Mexico, and worked on his family’s farm growing alfalfa, gladiolus, pomegranates and corn. His family moved to Watsonville in 1967, where Rivas began working in agriculture, first picking strawberries and later pruning and harvesting apples.
In 1979, he joined Resetar Brothers Apple Orchards, where he spent 37 years helping manage orchards and operations. After retiring, he worked for several years as a grower consultant for Martinelli’s.
His beekeeping career grew from a swarm his father found in a vegetable field. The two began collecting swarms and harvesting honey, and Rivas eventually encouraged his father to sell it rather than give it away. When his father died, Rivas took over his nine hives and expanded the operation into what became Rivas Bees.
Today, Rivas said the operation has roughly 450-500 hives. The bees pollinate crops including berries, apples and almonds, while Rivas Bees is sold in about 35 stores, including Ace Hardware.
Rivas has also worked with local schools, Cabrillo College, the Farm Bureau and other organizations to teach people about bees, pollination and agriculture.
Asked what he is most proud of after a lifetime in farming, Rivas’ answer was simple.
“Everything.”
For information on where to purchase Rivas Honey, visit rivasbees.com.
