How does beekeeping support the pollination of fruit and vegetable crops?

Beekeeping supports the pollination of fruit and vegetable crops by providing managed colonies of western honeybees that are strategically placed within or adjacent to agricultural fields and orchards.12

Because honeybees are efficient and adaptable pollinators, they are essential for the production of more than 90 commercially grown crops, including almonds, apples, blueberries, cucumbers, cherries, and watermelons. Beekeepers often transport these hives to service emerging blooms throughout the year, distributing them at specific densities—such as two colonies per acre for almond orchards—to ensure maximum coverage.123

This practice is vital to modern agriculture, as pollination by bees significantly increases crop yields and improves the quality of produce. The economic impact is substantial, with pollination services contributing billions of dollars to the agricultural industry annually. Without these managed services, the availability of many essential foods would decrease, and production costs would rise significantly.31