Fireweed honey is made in the clear mountain air.
Science shows that people sleep better when they eat honey before bedtime.
World Pollination Valued at 153 Billion Euros
French and German scientists have recently released a report in the journal Ecological Economics on the value of pollination by insect pollinators. They have revealed that a staggering 9.5% of the world's food supply, worth 153 billion euros annually, is directly dependent on insect pollination. The majority of this is for fruits and vegetables, with oilseed crops also playing a significant part.
The importance of insect pollination is significant due to the dramatic losses of bees that have occurred in the past few years. Colony Collapse Disorder or Disappearing Bee Disease has resulted in huge numbers of hive losses in North America. Increasing urbanization resulting in disappearance of wild habitat is another important factor. Large scale farming practises require correspondingly large numbers of bees to pollinate crops. Lack of proper pollination results in smaller and poorer quality fruits.
The domesticated honey bee is the most significant commercial pollinator because it can be raised in large numbers to provide the huge number of bees required for pollination of large scale farms. If CCD and poor hive survival continue become more prevalent, problems with food supply will start to arise.
