Earth Day is just around the corner and it serves as the perfect time to recognize our pollinator friends for all they do to keep our planet beautiful and bountiful.
What started in 1970 as a national event attended by 20 million Americans (10% of the U.S. population at the time) has blossomed into a global movement celebrated by over a billion people in over 184 countries. In its 50+ years, Earth Day has taken on many of the environment’s biggest issues – oil spills, air and water pollution, global warming and event clean energy – and nationally has led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of such monumental legislation as the Clean Air, Clean Water, National Environmental Education, Occupational Safety & Health, and Endangered Species Acts, while internationally paving the way to the UN Earth Summit and the 2015 Paris Agreement.
But of course we can’t talk about Earth Day without the pollinators that keep our world turning, in particular the honey bee. In addition to making the golden liquid of their namesake, honey bees also perform the vital function – a second shift as we like to call it - of pollination. In fact, these important pollinators are responsible for one-third of the world’s food supply, including foods like fruits, vegetables and nuts. Simply by doing what comes naturally to them, pollinators contribute billions of dollars to U.S. agriculture.
Now, you know we wouldn’t be talking about Earth Day and honey bees without sharing some fun (and delicious) ways to join in on the celebration! Here are a few tasty ideas:
Rubio’s Coastal Grill's Spring limited time offer (LTO) features Wild-Caught Red Argentinian Shrimp with a new, signature "sweet-heat" chipotle honey sauce. The craveable combination is offered in taco, burrito and bowl formats at Rubio's locations in California, Nevada and Arizona. Rubio's collaborated with the National Honey Board (NHB) to create a children's menu highlighting fun facts about honey bees and their role in creating many of the foods featured on Rubio's menus -- from avocados to mangos -- through their pollination efforts.
Our friends at Another Broken Egg Café are getting in on the spirit(s) too! Of honey bees they said,
“At Another Broken Egg Café we admire bees as the stewards of the global food supply... and for helping make our delicious Milagro Mango Margarita.”
You are invited to join in on their celebration of our “essential pollinators” and enjoy their “un-bee-lieveable” Milagro Mango Margarita, available at most cafés on April 26th.
Heading to Orlando for the EPCOT® International Flower and Garden Festival? Our friends at the park are bringing back their popular honey bee headbands for Earth Day festivities! These exclusive headbands - only available at the NHB’s Honey Bee-stro outdoor kitchen - are printed on recycled paper and serve as another magical reminder of simple ways we can help the planet.
Not looking to travel? No problem! We’ve also got ideas on how to celebrate honey bees on Earth Day from the comfort of your own hive. Whether it’s doing bee-themed activities with the kids, visiting your local beekeeper, or whipping up a delicious pollinator-inspired dish (we’ve got our top ten below), it’s never been easier to show our pollinator friends the love on Earth Day.
