Pacific Standard March-April 2013 Cover

Pollinating Local Is the New Buzz

Scientists say if bees were better homebodies it might be better for them and for us. During a few weeks in February, some 1.5 million honeybee hives will be drawn from all over North America for a pilgrimage to California, in which they will descend on the state's almond groves at a critical moment in the trees' flowering cycle. More than three quarters of North America's honeybees will arrive in the Central Valley just in time to pollinate the $2.3 billion almond crop. And when their work there is done the beekeepers will fan out with their bees to provide the same service for nearly ... Read More