The numbers are staggering. Over the past decade, commercial beekeepers have reported losing an average of 30-40% of their colonies each year. Habitat loss, pesticide exposure, varroa mites, climate change, and disease are all contributing to a crisis that threatens not just honeybees, but the entire food system that depends on them.
What Is at Stake
One out of every three bites of food you eat was made possible by pollinators. Almonds are 100% dependent on honeybee pollination. Apples, blueberries, cherries, avocados — the list goes on. Without healthy bee populations, these crops face devastating yield losses, and the food on your table becomes more expensive and less diverse.
What the Bouye Family Is Doing
As sixth-generation migratory beekeepers, the Bouyes are on the front lines of bee health. Every year, they manage hundreds of hives through some of the most challenging conditions in agriculture. Their practices include:
- Integrated pest management to control varroa mites without over-reliance on chemicals
- Nutritional supplements during dearth periods when natural forage is scarce
- Hive monitoring and record-keeping to catch health issues early
- Advocacy and education through the American Honey show and community outreach
How You Can Help
1. **Buy local, raw honey** from beekeepers who practice sustainable management 2. **Plant pollinator-friendly flowers** in your garden or on your balcony 3. **Reduce pesticide use** around your home 4. **Support organizations** like the Xerces Society and the Bee Conservancy 5. **Vote with your dollar** by supporting companies that prioritize bee health
Every jar of American Honey you buy supports the Bouye family's sustainable beekeeping practices and helps keep bees on the road, doing what they do best: pollinating the food that feeds us all.