California Almond Community Announces Five-Point Pollinator Protection Plan

What:             

Press conference call announcing the California almond community's five-point

Pollinator Protection Plan

When:            

January 14, 2020

11:00 a.m. PST / 2:00 p.m. EST

Where:           

Click here to register for the conference call

Who:              

Richard Waycott, President & CEO, Almond Board of California

Dr. Josette Lewis, Director of Agricultural Affairs, Almond Board of California

Dr. Gordon Wardell, apiculturist and bee expert

Why:              

Pollinators are essential to the production of many of the nutrient rich fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat, including almonds.¹ The California almond community is committed to ensuring bee-friendly orchards for pollinators. Every almond you eat exists because a honey bee pollinated an almond blossom. When honey bees visit almond orchards during bloom they get their first natural food source of the year there, building up reserves of worker bees and stored food to support a healthy start to their pollination season. ²

Because of honey bees' essential role in almond production, ABC has invested more in honey bee health research than any other crop group,³ with 125 projects funded to date. And what's more, farmers have widely adopted voluntary measures, like Honey Bee Best Management Practices, to protect bees in the orchard and beyond. Learn more about the mutually beneficial relationship between almonds and bees here.