"Bee" the Difference and Help Save the Bees

SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash., June 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One out of every three bites of food is made possible by bees and other pollinators.  Pollinator populations are declining worldwide and could have a great impact on the food supply.  To help raise awareness of this critical issue, Cascadian Farm partnered with The Xerces Society, a nonprofit leader in pollinator conservation and research.  Through its partnership, Cascadian Farm is donating money to support bee habitat restoration and consumer education, as well as promoting ways to directly get involved in the cause. 

"The majority of Cascadian Farm's products are dependent on bees, and we feel a responsibility to protect them," said Taylor West, marketing manager for Cascadian Farm.  "The certified organic farming practices we follow contribute to overall bee health, as do the wildflower-rich habitats we're working to restore on our farms.  Funding habitat restoration and farmer training by The Xerces Society and educating our consumers about the issue and what they can do to help will be a continued positive force for change, one step at a time."

Creating a Buzz to Save the Bees

Cascadian Farm is demonstrating its commitment to helping save the bees in a variety of ways, including:

• Donating $1, up to $100,000 maximum donation, to The Xerces Society's "Bring Back the Pollinators" campaign for every Buzz Crunch Honey Almond cereal purchase made now through Jan. 1, 2016 (available at Whole Foods Market)
• Following certified organic practices, which rely on natural biological systems for pest and weed control, thus avoiding use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides
• Working to restore wildflower-rich habitat on farms, a strategy that has been shown to reverse the decline of wild pollinators and improve the health of bees
• Educating consumers about how they can make a difference at home, including planting native wildflowers; creating homes for bees; and spreading the word to others to bring awareness to the issues facing bees and other pollinators
• Supporting research into bee health
• Funding bee-friendly almond farming practices in California, in collaboration with Whole Foods Market and The Xerces Society

"We rely on environmentally-conscious consumers and companies, like Cascadian Farm, to help protect pollinators and their essential habitats," said Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of The Xerces Society.  "The issues facing pollinators ultimately affect us all, and having a leading organic company set an example for environmental stewardship through educating its customers and supporting bee health research will have tremendous impact in this effort."

"Whole Foods Market appreciates the partnership of Cascadian Farm and their efforts to support pollinator protection," said Dwight Richmond, global grocery purchasing coordinator for Whole Foods Market. "We encourage people interested in learning more about how to protect pollinators to visit their local Whole Foods Market store on Saturday, June 21 where we will be hosting 'Human Bee-in' events with samples, family-friendly activities and plenty of education on how to protect the bees at home and with the products shoppers purchase."

To find out more about how you can get involved, visit www.cascadianfarm.com/bees.

ABOUT CASCADIAN FARM

Since 1972, Cascadian Farm™ has grown beyond its original farm and is recognized as a pioneer in the organic movement. Cascadian Farm was organic before "organic" was a trend. Since day one, the brand has been dedicated to organic goodness. Cascadian Farm offers more than 75 delicious, high-quality organic products including cereals, granolas, frozen fruits, vegetables and potatoes, fruit spreads, granola bars, juice concentrates and more.

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SOURCE Cascadian Farm