Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007
Bee-wildering Loss
The U.S. Department of Agriculture explains the difference between pollination and commercial pollination as it pertains to bees.
Pollination is the process by which plants reproduce, or produce seeds. Flowers — the reproductive organ of plants — contain both male and female parts. As bees collect nectar from flowers, used in honey production, they inadvertently bring the male reproductive parts of the plant in contact with the female. This contact begins the process by which plants make seeds, and the fruit and vegetables that accompany them.
Commercial pollination. Most fruit and vegetable producers rely on the services of migratory commercial beekeepers. These beekeepers travel the country to provide pollination services from region to region at the right moment for pollination. An estimated 630,000 colonies are transported by truck for this purpose each year. Most migrations end in California, the nation's largest fruit producer. Colonies, or hives, can contain as many as 60,000 honeybees.
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