Disappearing bees threaten ice cream sellers

[Ellen1]

Disappearing bees threaten ice cream sellers
Premium maker Haagen-Dazs says vanishing bee colonies in the U.S. could mean fewer flavors and high prices.
By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer
February 17 2008: 12:43 PM EST
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Haagen-Dazs is warning that a creature as small as a honeybee could become a big problem for the premium ice cream maker's business.

At issue is the disappearing bee colonies in the United States, a situation that continue to mystify scientists and frighten foodmakers.

That's because, according to Haagen-Dazs, one-third of the U.S. food supply - including a variety of fruits, vegetables and even nuts - depends on pollination from bees.

Haagen-Dazs, which is owned by Nestle, said bees are actually responsible for 40% of its 60 flavors - such as strawberry, toasted pecan and banana split.

Here is another one on disappearing bees:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/06/magazines/fortune/stipp_beefolo.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007090615
More here: http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/17/news/companies/bees_icecream/index.htm?postversion=2008021712

[Sing4Him]

NOT the Ice cream!!!:reaction:reaction:crying

[Waiting...]

I was wondering what became of the honey bee story. This thing broke last summer. Apparently, if the bees disappear, so do we.

[tygerkittn]

We do disappear! :)
What about cereal? Every other brand has the word "honey" in it's name.

[ANewCreature]

I'm amazed to learn more and more about how important bees are.

I knew they were good for something besides old jokes. (I mean, really, most kids have probably heard dozens of times, if they complain and ask why bees are buzzing around them at a picnic, some adult saying "bees hang around you because you're so sweet." And even more times in our family :)

But, ice cream...this is a sad day. :ohno :reaction I guess when we don't even have our favorite comforts, it'll just force us to turn to Jesus more. And, we'll have so much mroe to look forward to in Heaven. Where I often tell kids, I imagine even the broccoli tasting like ice cream, or choclate, or whatever your faovirte food is.

[Amanda's mom]

NOT the Ice cream!!!:reaction:reaction:crying

Thank you!!! you made me laugh! not an easy thing to do lately. I needed that. :aha :hug

[deanne53]

You still have bumble bees and a few others insects that will pollinate.
In my opinion, its the lawn care business that hurt the honey bees.
The first big honey flow in spring is the dandylions, and in June its the white clover. Both are treated with chemicals to kill them out of your grass... Lets say you just had your yard sprayed, and a bee comes along, lands on that flower, gets the pollen then travels back to his hive. On her little feet is the chemical and he then as he walks up to the frame of honey they are working, to get there he crosses over all that honey, that is stored up for them to have during the winter.. When he gets there another bee takes that from him and stores it in the cell... so now that bee has that chemical on him..... It they live through that, then they have to eat that honey in the winter for survival. My thought is that there immune system is down from all those chemicals, that people use and can't fight all all these diseases that they have been coming up with in the past 20 years..... Just my thought, been a beekeeper for 8 years now.

[yeshuasavedme]

The chemical on the little bee legs makes perfect sense.

We, with all of our "smarts" are outsmarting ourselves as we go against how God put things into motion.

[Waiting...]

You still have bumble bees and a few others insects that will pollinate.
In my opinion, its the lawn care business that hurt the honey bees.
The first big honey flow in spring is the dandylions, and in June its the white clover. Both are treated with chemicals to kill them out of your grass... Lets say you just had your yard sprayed, and a bee comes along, lands on that flower, gets the pollen then travels back to his hive. On her little feet is the chemical and he then as he walks up to the frame of honey they are working, to get there he crosses over all that honey, that is stored up for them to have during the winter.. When he gets there another bee takes that from him and stores it in the cell... so now that bee has that chemical on him..... It they live through that, then they have to eat that honey in the winter for survival. My thought is that there immune system is down from all those chemicals, that people use and can't fight all all these diseases that they have been coming up with in the past 20 years..... Just my thought, been a beekeeper for 8 years now.

I never thought about that. Thanks for sharing.:wave

[manytears]

You still have bumble bees and a few others insects that will pollinate.
In my opinion, its the lawn care business that hurt the honey bees.
The first big honey flow in spring is the dandylions, and in June its the white clover. Both are treated with chemicals to kill them out of your grass... Lets say you just had your yard sprayed, and a bee comes along, lands on that flower, gets the pollen then travels back to his hive. On her little feet is the chemical and he then as he walks up to the frame of honey they are working, to get there he crosses over all that honey, that is stored up for them to have during the winter.. When he gets there another bee takes that from him and stores it in the cell... so now that bee has that chemical on him..... It they live through that, then they have to eat that honey in the winter for survival. My thought is that there immune system is down from all those chemicals, that people use and can't fight all all these diseases that they have been coming up with in the past 20 years..... Just my thought, been a beekeeper for 8 years now.

OH WOW I never thought of that~:fearwell there goes my getting rid of dandelions!