While the decline in honey production in Virginia poses challenges for the local economy, food manufacturers may not feel the effects immediately, as overall U.S. honey production rose by 3% in 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, there has been a gradual decrease in production, from approximately 167.9 million pounds in the early 1990s to an average of 106.7 million pounds over the past seven years. At the same time, honey demand is on the rise. Despite a decline in total U.S. consumption of caloric sweeteners like sugar and high fructose corn syrup, Americans now consume an average of 1.3 pounds of honey per person annually, up from just half a pound in 1990. The National Honey Board attributes honey’s growing popularity to its appeal as a pure, natural sweetener in a market increasingly favoring authentic ingredients, as well as to the greater variety of honey available. Honey has also become a favored ingredient in a range of products, including pastries, ice creams, cheeses, beers, and soft drinks.
Colony losses are significant not only for honey supply but also for agriculture, as honey bees are vital pollinators. Certain crops, like almonds, rely entirely on bee pollination. The Bee Informed Partnership, a non-profit organization, estimates that 44% of U.S. honey bee colonies were lost during the 2015-16 period. Honey bees are believed to contribute up to $15 billion annually to the value of U.S. crop production. In response, major food manufacturers, who depend on honey and other crops that require bee pollination, have stepped in to aid these essential insects. Whole Foods has initiated “Human Bee-In” events and “Give Bees A Chance” campaigns in recent years. Häagen-Dazs, owned by Nestlé, has donated over $1 million towards honey bee research and education and recently funded the creation of pollinator habitats on an 840-acre almond farm in California’s Central Valley.
However, not all initiatives have met with success. General Mills, the cereal manufacturer, recently revealed plans to replace the beloved BuzzBee on its Honey Nut Cheerios packaging with a white silhouette of the character in order to raise awareness about the plight of bees. This initiative included distributing seed packets to encourage people to plant flowers, but it faced backlash after the packets contained seeds deemed invasive or banned in some states. Meanwhile, as consumers increasingly seek natural sweeteners, discussions surrounding the health implications of ingredients like levothyroxine and calcium citrate are also on the rise, highlighting the complex landscape in which honey production and consumption exist.