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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on May 10, 2025
Honeybee deaths may be another tragic reason your grocery bill increases.
Trade agreements and bird flu aren’t the only thing impacting prices at the grocery store. Though the price of avocado and eggs are a growing concern for most households.
A new study from Project Apis m., a nonprofit group supporting beekeeping science, reports “catastrophic” honeybee deaths and industry decline across the country. Another potential impact on the price of produce.
These tiny insects have a huge job. Pollinating 75% of the world’s produce isn’t an easy task. It takes all hands, err, wings on deck.
In addition to being the only insect that produces a food product for human consumption, honeybees are responsible for $17 billion in agricultural production each year.
According to the survey, commercial operators reported average losses of 62% between June and February.
With an estimated 2.7 million colonies across the country, that is a huge loss!
This impacts not only the bee population. But fruits, vegetables, almonds, and other essential food sources in the country.
According to Project Apis m., “Early reports of severe colony losses began pouring in last month from beekeepers across the country.” In the survey press release, Project Apis m. executive director Danielle Downey explains that in response to these reports, the organization, along with the American Beekeeping Federation and thee American Honey Producers Association launched this survey to asses the losses, gather critical information, and potentially determine the causes.
The survey polled data from 702 beekeepers on the status of their colonies. In addition to colony losses, beekeepers were asked questions about management practices and potential contributing factors that may impact honeybee deaths. All aimed to better understand the situation.
The breadth of the study was considerable, making up a significant portion of the country’s honeybee colonies.
In all, beekeepers included in this study account for over 1.835 million colonies. According to the press release, this includes 68% of the nation’s bees.
Hobbyist survey respondents, having anywhere from one to 49 colonies, reported losing half of their bee colonies during the June to February survey period. Those considered “sideliner operations” with 50 to 500 colonies reported a loss of 54% during that period. Commercial beekeepers, with more than 500 colonies averaged a loss of 62%.
In previous years, commercial beekeepers have experienced lower honeybee deaths than those in smaller colony size levels. But that doesn’t seem the case now.
These honeybee deaths and losses add up to millions of dollars.
Just in direct colony replacement costs, the survey tallies up $224.8 million in losses. The press release indicates that this number doesn’t even include labor, feed, or necessary colony treatments.
The economic impact of these honeybee deaths and losses, just based on the almond pollination efforts alone are estimated at $428 million. Overall, pollination losses add up to $634.7 million.
Overall, almond pollination losses exceed half a million dollars. Totals for all domestically grown crops are astronomical!
Loss of honey production, pollination contracts, and impacts to crops using these pollination businesses weren’t even considered in this survey. Though the downline impact of these honeybee deaths likely accounts for billions in losses across the country.
Yes. Billion. With a capital “B.”
“Initial survey results of colony losses suggest that commercial beekeepers may have lost in excess of 60% of their bees. The scale of these losses is completely unsustainable,” said Zac Browning, a fourth-generation commercial beekeeper and board chairman of Project Apis m.
Browning says that if losses continue at this rate, “we simply won’t be able to sustain current food production.”
Reduced crop yield, increased prices, and widespread food insecurity.
Why are we experiencing such severe honeybee deaths and losses?
Unfortunately, researchers don’t have a straightforward answer to this.
There are a few theories though. Most of which include some of the more common contributing factors to colony issues.
But one other potential cause has recently popped up on beekeeper radar.
Theft.
Believe it or not, hive theft is a growing problem.
Folks are getting desperate. In Northern California’s Butte County, beehive theft revolves around almond pollination, said Sheriff’s Deputy Rowdy Freeman. Freeman is a member of the California Rural Crime Prevention Task Force.
Bee theft in California has increased 87% since 2013. With the number of stolen hives reaching 10,000. A value of over $3.5 million.
“I often describe it as a perfect crime, because it’s beekeepers stealing from other beekeepers,” says Freeman. “It’s kind of rare that we do recover stolen hives.”
Since most theft occurs in the dead of night, many beekeepers are being proactive by hiding tracking devices deep in the hives. Law enforcement is also recommending beekeepers to “brand” their hives so that if found, the rightful owner can be identified.
While there isn’t much that a citizen can do to help prevent theft, other than reporting known crimes. There are some things that you can do to help support your local pollinator.
One of those things that you can do to help, is planting things in your yard to help support pollinators.
Plants to consider:
Select plants that are native to your area. These plants will be hardier for your climate and require much less fuss.
Ask your local garden center for options in the following plant families:
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Honeybee Deaths May Be Another Reason Your Grocery Bill Increases,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)