It’s easy to overlook the quiet work happening behind the scenes in nature, but pollinators are doing big things for our food supply every single day. From almonds to apples to that avocado toast you love, much of what we eat starts with a honeybee doing its thing.
So, What Foods Come from Pollination?
A lot of common foods rely on pollinators:
Fruits: apples, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, cherries, peaches
Veggies: cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, peppers
Nuts: almonds (they're 100% bee-pollinated!)
Coffee, chocolate, and even vanilla get help from pollinators, too
How Much Do Pollinators Really Matter?
A lot — like, billions of dollars a lot. Around 75% of global food crops depend at least in part on pollination. In the U.S. alone, pollination contributes $20+ billion annually to agriculture. Without bees, we'd still have some grains and root veggies, but the variety and nutrition in our diets would seriously suffer.
Next time you grab a piece of fruit or drizzle honey into your tea, give a quiet shoutout to the bees. They’re tiny, but their impact is massive — and our plates (and grocery stores) are way more colorful because of them.
Photo Credit to Genetic Literacy Project
