Honeybees were brought from Europe to the East Coast of North America in 1622. It took another 231 years before the honeybee reached the West Coast. Beekeeping is now a $14 billion industry nationwide.
Honeybees play a significant role in the production of a number of specialty crops. Insects pollinate apple, blueberry, cherry, peach, raspberry, strawberry and pumpkin flowers. An estimated 80 percent of crop insect pollination is accomplished by honeybees. Millions of acres of fruit, vegetable, oilseed and legume seed crops depend on insect pollination.
Numerous crops are 90 percent dependent on honeybee pollination. Among them are avocados and sunflowers. Other crops such as alfalfa, cucumbers, kiwis, melons and many vegetables also are pollinated, in part, by honeybees. The California almond crop is entirely dependent on honeybee pollination.
Bees not only pollinate plant species with showy flowers but also pollinate many important food crops such as beans, peas, tomatoes, tea and cocoa.
Bees are best