Did you know that honey bees are responsible for pollinating one in every three bites of food we eat? As the world’s largest pollinator, this insect plays an integral role in promoting the growth and reproduction of our crops and wildlife.
The lack of bees would affect and damage our food supply chain. Don’t believe us? Just check out these four everyday foods honey bees pollinate!
Apples
An apple a day could keep the doctor away, but this fruit would likely cease to exist without honey bees. Honey bees play a crucial role in helping apple trees grow and produce fruit. According to the American Beekeeping Foundation, multiple visits from honey bees often cause apple trees to produce more fruit.
Cherries
Whether it’s your favorite fruit or your preferred ice cream topping, cherries are beloved by consumers all over the globe. This sweet and delicious fruit also depends on honey bees’ pollination. As cherries grow, they often need the assistance of honey bees to carry and transfer pollen to promote reproduction.
According to the American Beekeeping Federation, 90 percent of all worldwide cherry production depends on the pollination of honey bees.
Almonds
Honey bees aren’t only responsible for the growth of fruit, though. These buzzing insects also play a vital role in pollinating almonds. In fact, the design of almond flowers makes this plant dependent on the skillful pollination process of honey bees. Since almond flowers must receive pollen from different plants to fertilize, honey bees are excellent for leading this cross-pollination process.
Growing almonds is not simple, and it’s almost impossible to grow them naturally without honey bees.
Pumpkins
During the fall season, pumpkin becomes one of the most consumed flavors and foods worldwide. This seasonal item is beloved by many, making it almost impossible to imagine a world without pumpkins. But, unfortunately, the declining population of honey bees could lead to the end of this seasonal food.
According to the American Beekeeping Foundation, honey bees are the largest pollinator of pumpkins and account for over 62 percent of all pumpkins grown in the past year. So if you’re an avid lover of pumpkin drinks or food items, consider donating to a honey bee organizationto support the protection of these crucial pollinators.
With so many foods available on stores shelves, it’s easy to forget how difficult and taxing the process of growing these items can be. So the next time you browse through store shelves, consider these everyday foods honey bees pollinate and how you can help preserve your food supply by supporting the protection of bees. Check out Save the Bees to learn more information.
