By Jack Levine
Most of us are very conscious about making healthy choices when it comes to mealtime. However, we don’t consider how something as tiny as a honey bee can make a difference in the quality of our food. The connection is so strong that the United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency released a joint report on honey bee health. The goal is to protect the honey bee population.
Keeping the bee population healthy will have a direct impact on the quality of our food. “There is an important link between the health of American agriculture and the health of our honey bees for our country’s long term agricultural productivity,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. “The forces impacting honey bee health are complex and USDA, our research partners, and key stakeholders will be engaged in addressing this challenge.”
What does this mean to us? According to information released by the government, an estimated one-third of all food and beverages are made possible by pollination, mainly by honey bees. In the United States, pollination contributes to crop production worth $20-30 billion in agricultural production annually. A decline in managed bee colonies puts great pressure on the sectors of agriculture reliant on commercial pollination services.
According to the Acting EPA Administrator, Bob Perciasepe, “The decline in honey bee health is a complex problem caused by a combination of stressors, and at EPA we are committed to continuing our work with USDA, researchers, beekeepers, growers and the public to address this challenge.”
Earth Angels United, the nonprofit organization working with GRANDparents America Expo-Orlando has been a longtime supporter of pure raw honey and bee health. If you would like to order honey call 407.263.7865. Fresh local honey will be available at the GRANDparents America Expo on September 7th at the Orlando Cultural Park in Orlando.
Jack Levine, the founder of 4Generations Institute and Partnership Director for GRAND Magazine, the digital publication for grandparents and their families, is an advocate for local food production and honey bee health. He and his wife, Charlotte, manage one bee hive in their back yard in Tallahassee to help pollinate their organic garden.