The mighty honey bee shoulders an amazing load. Did you know they’re responsible for pollinating 1 in every 3 bites of food we eat? That includes nearly 100% of the delicious almonds in our snack products. But bees have been disappearing at a high rate, adding risk and volatility into our food supply. In fact, on average 40% of honey bee colonies are lost every year.
Experts agree that there are four main factors1 impacting bee health: pesticides, parasites, poor nutrition, and pathogens. Together, beekeepers and growers can employ sustainable farming practices to ensure bees and our food supply remain healthy for generations to come.
As North America’s leader in private label snack nuts, few buy as many almonds as we do. This distinction carries a weighty responsibility that we take very seriously: cultivating a more sustainable almond industry. That’s why we’re on a mission to source 100% of our almonds from bee-friendly farms by 2025. While California produces the vast majority of the world’s almonds on over 1.5 million acres2 of almond orchards, only a fraction of that acreage is currently verified as bee-friendly. By setting this goal, we are joining forces with other industry leaders to significantly expand the adoption of bee-friendly farming practices within the almond industry.
To help us achieve our mission, we will be supporting bee health through charitable contributions to Project Apis m. and their Seeds for Bees program, which provides almond growers with the seeds and skills they need to create habitat and forage for bees while also improving soil health.
We are proud to be partnering with Pomona Farming, a leader in sustainable and bee-friendly farming practices.
Pomona Farming is one of the largest almond growers in California with approximately 40,000 acres across the Central Valley. Pomona currently dedicates over 3,300 of its acres (over 8%) to providing forage for bees and other pollinators and has planted more than 30 different varieties of bee-friendly plants, with bloom cycles staged throughout the year. Pomona also hosts more than 700 honey bee hives over the winter at its three Bee Sanctuaries—each boasting warm weather, plentiful water and several hundred contiguous acres full of flowers and forage.
Pomona Farming’s practices include a rigorous beekeeper qualification and auditing process to ensure hive health, proper nesting, shelter and hydration during almond bloom, as well as an extended resting period for the bees prior to almond bloom, so they are well rested heading into almond pollination.
No spray applications occur during bee flight hours. The use of insecticides is strictly prohibited during almond bloom and they never use neonicotinoids or chlorpyrifos, two pesticides that can be harmful to bees. Additionally, Pomona employs the latest technologies and practices related to pest and weed management, significantly reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides overall.
We’re proud to be a leader in bee-friendly farming practices and to be partnering with Flagstone Foods to expand our reach and impact on this critical issue.
Ryon Paton, Pomona Farming
We partner with like-minded organizations who share our commitment to restoring healthy bee populations through research and promoting sustainable, bee-friendly farming practices.
Project Apis m. (PAm) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund and direct research to enhance the health and vitality of honey bee colonies while improving crop production. The name comes from Apis mellifera, the scientific name for the honey bee. Formed by beekeepers and growers, PAm continuously works to bridge industry needs with efforts by top researchers and scientists to improve bee health and sustainable agricultural practices. Learn more about how Project Apis m. supports bee health.
Seeds for Bees increases the density, diversity, and duration of bee forage in California orchards, farms, and vineyards, where 18% of the nation’s crops are produced. Just like humans, having access to good nutrition helps bees stay strong in the face of other stressors. Healthier bees mean stronger hives and better pollination. Seeds for Bees cover crops work two-fold to increase sustainability in agriculture while providing an additional source of food for bees. Watch Seeds for Bees video here.
The health of honey bees is something that impacts us all. By working together, we can all support better bee health. Here are a few ways that you can help at home.3
Plant Flowers – Bees need good nutrition to stay healthy and strong.
Reduce your pesticide use – Avoid using pesticides when possible and if you choose to use them, read and carefully follow label instructions.
Rethink your yard – Planting flowers and mowing less frequently can provide more habitat for bees.
Know where your honey comes from – Support a bee-keeper near you by buying local honey. Those funds allow them to invest in healthy bees.
Donate to help bees – There are many organizations dedicated to helping honey bees and pollinators, including our partner Project Apis m.
Sources:
1. Project Apis m.: News from Project Apis m.
2. California Almond Board: 2019_AcreageReport.pdf
3. Bee Health Collective: How You Can Help Bees