Recently, honey bees have been in the headlines. What makes bees as buzzworthy as Brangelina? Well, it has something to do with their starring role in our food supply: bees pollinate more than 100 types of crops in the US, from almonds to zucchini. They are also vital to the reproduction of clover and alfalfa, which feed grazing animals like cows and goats. To sum it up, bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat — yet US honey bee colonies are declining at an alarming annual rate of 30% or more.
At Whole Foods Market®, we’re passionate about a healthy planet filled with safe, reliable and delicious food. That’s why we’re raising awareness and building partnerships opens in a new tab to help support endangered honey bee populations. Watch this video to learn more about the key players in this global drama, then read about the simple things you can do to help “bee the solution.”
Ready to get busy for the bees? Look for “Share the Buzz” signs throughout the store on products from brands that support honey bee preservation opens in a new tab. Their donations go to the The Xerces Society opens in a new tab, a nonprofit organization that advocates for bees through research and education. The Xerces Society will, in turn, provide bee-friendly tools and training to our farmer partners.
Bee a melon lover Crazy for cantaloupe? Bees love them too! Cantaloupe is one of hundreds of fruits pollinated by bees. From June 13th through June 26th for every organic cantaloupe purchased at our stores, 25 cents will be donated to The Xerces Society and matched by them with another 25 cents. That money will go towards providing education and tools to our farmers for honey bee preservation, so eat up!
But wait! There’s more! There are so many things YOU can do to make a more bee-friendly world — from planting varied fruits and flowers to choosing organic options for your grocery cart to building a backyard beehive. Check out more simple ways to help opens in a new tab. Not quite ready to host your own hive, but still want to get to know bees better?
Join us online for the Do Something Reel™ Film Festival opens in a new tab. This month’s featured film is Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? opens in a new tab a profound, alternative look at the bee crisis from Taggart Siegel, award-winning director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John. Bee Social The single most important thing you can do is to talk to friends and family about the vital role bees play in our food supply. Check our Facebook opens in a new tab, Twitter opens in a new tab and Pinterest opens in a new tab pages for fascinating facts, pin-worthy projects and bee-licious recipes to help you #sharethebuzz.
How are you helping to preserve shrinking honey bee populations? Share it in the comments below.
