The super-organism is responsible for pollinating one-third of the food we eat.
May 3rd, 2022, about 5 million honeybees bound for Alaska died in crates in Delta’s Atlanta airport cargo bay. The bees, which are not native to Alaska, were on their way to pollinate apple orchards and nurseries. A simple error in re-routing a plane and not having proper protocols in place helps highlight the importance of bees to the world once again and their importance to our ecosystem.
“Nearly 40% of US Beekeepers lost their colonies during the previous year.” -- 2019 Survey from Bee Informed Partnership
Bees are experiencing massive die-offs in North America and around the world, without unfortunate incidents like what happened in Atlanta. Compared to 1947, the US honeybee population has declined by 60%.
Bees pollinate one-third of the food we eat.
Bees are responsible for pollinating most of the fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts that are essential to the modern human diet; not to mention the wonderful honey they produce.
Bees are a significant part of the American agricultural system. They pollinate more than 80% of all cultivated crops, increasing crop values each year by more than $15 Billion.
What is killing the bees?
There are 5 main threats to bees in North America that are leading to the dwindling numbers of the great pollinator and the lynchpin of our agricultural system.
Habitat Loss
Many bee habitats, both natural spaces and those created by beekeepers, have dwindled, fragmented, or disappeared.
Climate Change
Changing conditions in the climate have shifted temperature zones on the continent, causing plants the bees interact with to grow north of their natural placement, leaving bees behind. The incident in Atlanta highlights what happens when bees are outside their natural temperature zone for too long.
Chemical Pesticides
Pesticides used both commercially and residentially to keep away pest and weeds have an unwanted effect of killing “non-target” species such as bees.
Invasive Plant Species
Plants that are introduced by humans to non-native environments can gain a competitive edge over the native plants in the area, often out-growing them. Local bee diets evolve to feed on local plant life, so new plant species can result in a loss of food for the bees.
Diseases and Parasites
Always a threat to all species, diseases, and parasites are a threat to bees. Non-native parasites are especially threatening including Varro Mites or fungi’ like Nosema bombi. The German yellowjacket, which was also introduced to North America, feeds on native and honey bees, leading to a decline in population.
The “Happy Bees” at our farm in Santa Maria, CA
Our beekeepers are trying to help by providing a great habitat for our honey bees in California. We strive to provide an environment that is conducive to a healthy habitat in which the bees get to choose to feed on the nectar we provide, creating the beautiful, sweet, cannabinoid-rich super honey for Uh Huh Honey.
Uh Huh Honey has partnered with the Bee Conservancy
Uh Huh Honey is proud to have partnered with The Bee Conservancy, a 501c3 that was founded in 2009 and has done some amazing work to raise awareness, and take action to help “Save the Bees.”
Some of the milestones the team has achieved include creating the first urban beekeeping training and apiaries in New York City, opening bee sanctuaries, and creating a “Sponsor-a-Hive” program that places honeybee hives in community gardens, school gardens, and urban farms across the country.
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