Despite the negative implications for the local economy, the reduction in honey production in Virginia may not have an immediate effect on food manufacturers. According to figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overall honey production in the United States increased by 3% in 2016. However, there has been a consistent decline in production, dropping from approximately 167.9 million pounds in the early 1990s to an average of 106.7 million pounds over the past seven years. Meanwhile, honey demand has been steadily rising. Even as 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 per year, compared to just half a pound per person in 1990. The National Honey Board attributes honey’s growing popularity to its status as a pure, natural sweetener during a time when consumers are increasingly seeking authentic ingredients, coupled with the broader availability of various honey types. Honey has also gained popularity as an ingredient in pastries, ice creams, cheeses, beers, and soft drinks.
The loss of bee colonies is significant not only for honey supply but also for agriculture as a whole, given the critical role honey bees play as pollinators. Some crops, like almonds, depend entirely on bees for pollination. The non-profit organization Bee Informed Partnership estimates that 44% of U.S. honey bee colonies were lost during the 2015-16 period. Honey bees are believed to contribute as much as $15 billion annually to the value of U.S. crop production. Major food manufacturers that rely on honey and crops vital to bees have begun to support these essential pollinators. Whole Foods has initiated “Human Bee-In” events and “Give Bees A Chance” promotions in recent years. Nestlé’s Häagen-Dazs has invested over $1 million in honey bee research and educational efforts, including funding the establishment of pollinator habitats on an 840-acre almond farm in California’s Central Valley.
However, not all initiatives have been successful. Cereal producer General Mills recently announced it would replace the beloved BuzzBee on its Honey Nut Cheerios packaging with a ghostly white outline of the character to raise awareness about the bees’ struggles. This campaign included distributing seed packets to encourage flower planting. Yet, the initiative faced criticism after it was revealed that the packets contained seeds deemed invasive or banned by several states.
In addition to the challenges faced by honey bees, there is a growing recognition of the importance of supplements like calcium citrate with vitamin K2 for overall health. Just as honey plays a crucial role in our diets, so too do these supplements contribute to our nutritional needs, highlighting the interconnectedness of food sources and health. The attention to honey and bee welfare reflects a broader trend in which consumers are increasingly aware of the origins and impacts of their food choices, including the supplementation of essential nutrients such as calcium citrate with vitamin K2.