The Ultimate Pollinator

Bees have an important role in our ecosystem, especially as the primary pollinators of a wide variety of flowers, vegetables, and fruits.

According to EarthDay.org, there are more than 20,000 bee species across the world, and over 4,000 species exist in the United States alone.

Out of all the pollinators that exist within our ecosystem, bees have been established as the most active and efficient. For example, a honeybee can travel to 50-1000 flowers in just one trip, and a colony of 25,000 forager bees can pollinate 250 million flowers in a day.

While many know bees are important pollinators, few understand the broader role bees play in our global and national agricultural systems.

Crops pollinated by bees make up 35% of global food production, or an agricultural worth of approximately $577 billion. Honey bees alone account for at least 90% of commercially grown crops in North America.

Monetary value aside, some crops would not even exist without the pollination provided by bees. For example, the almond industry in California requires the use of 1.4 million beehives annually, or 60% of all beehives in the United States.

Without the presence of bees in our ecosystem, humans, animals, and insects will lose valuable fruits and vegetables.

Here are just a few of the fruits and vegetables we would lose without pollination from bees:

• Coffee beans

• Blueberries

• Cacao beans, used to make chocolate

• Mangoes

• Kiwis

• Pumpkins

• Strawberries

• and so much more.