Foods That Bees Pollinate — and Why They Matter

Bees play a critical role in putting food on our plates. While many staple crops like wheat, rice, and corn are wind-pollinated, much of the food that makes our diets nutritious, colorful, and diverse depends on bees and other pollinators. 

In fact, bees are responsible for pollinating more than one-third of the food we eat — and the crops they support are often the most nutrient-dense. 

How bees support our food dystem 

Pollination isn’t just about producing more food. When bees visit flowers, they: 

• Increase crop yields 
• Improve fruit size, shape, and shelf life 
• Enhance flavor and nutritional quality 

Without bees, many crops would still grow — but harvests would be smaller, less reliable, and less nutritious. 

Foods that depend on bee pollination 

Fruits 

Many fruits are highly dependent on bees, including: 

• Apples 
• Blueberries 
• Strawberries 
• Cherries 
• Peaches 
• Avocados 

Without pollinators, many fruit crops would produce little to no harvest. 

Vegetables 

Vegetables that rely on bees for pollination include: 

• Squash and pumpkins 
• Cucumbers 
• Melons 
• Broccoli 
• Asparagus 

Bees help these plants produce well-formed, market-quality vegetables. 

Nuts and seeds 

Bees are essential for: 

• Almonds 
• Cashews 
• Sunflower seeds 
• Sesame 

Almonds, in particular, are almost entirely dependent on bee pollination. 

Oils, spices, and beverages 

Bees also pollinate crops used to make: 

• Cooking oils (canola, sunflower) 
• Spices (coriander, cardamom) 
• Coffee 
• Cocoa 

Foods bees pollinate indirectly 

Bees pollinate forage crops like alfalfa and clover, which feed: 

• Dairy cows 
• Beef cattle 
• Other livestock 

That means bees are essential not just for fruits and vegetables, but also for milk, cheese, and meat production. 

Native bees matter too 

While honeybees get much of the attention, native bees and wild pollinators are often even more efficient pollinators for certain crops. A healthy food system depends on diverse pollinator species, not just one. 

What happens to our diet eithout bees? 

Without bees, our diets would be: 

• Less nutritious 
• Lower in vitamins and minerals 
• More dependent on a narrow range of staple crops 

Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds would become scarcer and more expensive — hitting low-income communities first and hardest. 

Why bee decline is a food justice issue 

Bee declines are driven by: 

• Habitat loss 
• Industrial agriculture 
• Toxic pesticides 
• Climate change 

These same forces also harm farmworkers, small farmers, and frontline communities. Protecting bees means protecting food security, public health, and environmental justice. 

Friends of the Earth is fighting for pollinator-friendly food systems 

For more than 50 years, Friends of the Earth has worked to transform our food system by: 

• Reducing pesticide use 
• Promoting organic and regenerative agriculture 
• Protecting pollinator habitat 
• Holding corporations accountable 

Bees aren’t just pollinators — they’re a foundation of a healthy, just food system. 

Take action 

🐝 Protect pollinators 
🌱 Support organic food 
✊ Demand pesticide reform