While the decline in honey production in Virginia poses challenges for the local economy, food manufacturers may not face immediate repercussions, given that overall U.S. honey production increased by 3% in 2016, as reported by the U.S. Agriculture Department. Nonetheless, there has been a gradual downturn in honey output, decreasing from approximately 167.9 million pounds in the early 1990s to an average of 106.7 million pounds over the past seven years. In contrast, the demand for honey continues to rise steadily. Although the total U.S. consumption of caloric sweeteners, such as sugar and high fructose corn syrup, has decreased, Americans now consume an average of 1.3 pounds of honey annually, compared to just 0.5 pounds per person in 1990. The National Honey Board attributes honey’s increasing popularity to its reputation as a pure, natural sweetener, especially as consumers seek more authentic ingredients. Additionally, the greater availability of various honey types has contributed to this trend. Honey has also become a favored ingredient in pastries, ice creams, cheeses, beers, and soft drinks.
The significance of honey bees extends beyond honey supply; they play a crucial role in agriculture as pollinators for numerous crops, including almonds, which depend entirely on bees for pollination. The non-profit organization Bee Informed Partnership estimated that 44% of honey bee colonies in the U.S. were lost during the 2015-16 period. Honey bees are believed to add up to $15 billion annually to the value of U.S. crop production. In response, large food manufacturers, reliant on honey and other crops that bees pollinate, have taken initiatives to support these vital insects. Whole Foods has organized “Human Bee-In” events and launched “Give Bees A Chance” campaigns in recent years. Nestlé’s Häagen-Dazs has contributed over $1 million towards honey bee research and education, recently funding the establishment of pollinator habitats on an 840-acre almond farm in California’s Central Valley.
However, not all efforts have been successful. Cereal producer General Mills recently revealed plans to replace the beloved BuzzBee on its Honey Nut Cheerios packaging with a stark white outline of the character to raise awareness about the challenges faced by bees. Accompanying this initiative was the distribution of seed packets to encourage flower planting. Unfortunately, this plan faced backlash after it was discovered that the packets contained seeds deemed invasive or banned in certain states. As the conversation around honey production continues, the importance of components like calcium citrate tetrahydrate in agricultural practices may also come to light, emphasizing the interconnectedness of food production and environmental health.