Plan includes new partnership with North American non-profit, Pollinator Partnership
JAN. 14, 2020 (MODESTO, Calif.) – Preceding the start of the annual almond pollination season in February, the California almond community is launching a new five-point Pollinator Protection Plan. A collection of important initiatives aimed at protecting bees during almond bloom and beyond, this new plan reaffirms the industry’s long-standing commitment to researching, protecting and improving honey bee health.
Pollinators are essential to the production of many nutrient rich fruits, vegetables, and nuts, including almonds. In fact, every almond that is produced exists because a honey bee pollinated an almond blossom.
“Protecting and improving honey bee health during the short time that bees are in our orchards is critical to the success of every almond farmer. By working with national pollinator organizations, we are also engaging with partners who impact the health of bees during the other ten months that they spend outside of almonds,” said Josette Lewis, PhD, director of Agricultural Affairs at the Almond Board of California (ABC).
Pollinator Protection Plan
1. Announcing a New Partnership
2. Educating Farmers and other Pollination Stakeholders
3. Promoting Tools for Improved Communication
4. Increasing Floral Diversity On-Farm
5. Supporting Bee Health Research
The Almond Board of California is a leader in the honey bee health conversation, and these efforts build on existing partnerships with more than 20 bee health organizations spanning universities, government agencies, nonprofits and beekeeping groups.
“Responsible farming is at the heart of what the California almond community does,” said Lewis. “Whether it is bee health, water efficiency, or other important sustainability areas, we stand committed to growing almonds in better, safer and healthier ways.”
To learn more about the mutually beneficial relationship between almonds and bees, along with the California almond community’s commitment to protecting and improving honey bee health, visit Almonds.com/Bees.
Visit the ABC newsroom to read the full press release.
About the Almond Board of California
California almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of California promotes natural, wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic market development, innovative research, and accelerated adoption of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond farmers and processors in California, most of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit Almonds.com or check out California Almonds on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and the California Almonds blog.
To view a statement from the Pollinator Partnership describing the new partnership with the Almond Board of California, click here.
