MOM's Organic Market sells honey bees to support pollinator communities

MOM's Organic Market—a family-owned-and-operated, Maryland-based natural retailer—is selling honey bees and related equipment via its Bee Supported Agriculture program (BeeSA).

The market teamed up with Virginia-based Richland Honey Bees to offer customers a queen bee and nucleus hive, which are ready to order on MOM's website now. MOM's customers can pick up their bees at the Alexandria, Herndon, Hampden and Rockville stores in late May. Beekeeping equipment such as bee suits, smokers, hives and more are also available at select MOM's locations.

This partnership is an effort to rebuild pollinator communities as part of MOM's purpose to protect and restore the environment. "Pollinators are being wiped out by the toxic pesticides applied to farms and lawns everywhere,” said MOM's founder and CEO Scott Nash. “It's important to protect our pollinators and to bring awareness about how we can make a difference."

Lynn White of Richland Honey Bees will be available at a few MOM’s locations during the weekend to answer questions.

The Organic Center reported in 2015 that 75 percent of all food crops rely on pollinators, particularly honey bees. That makes honey bees responsible for about $12.4 billion in U.S. crops annually, including apples, carrots, onions and broccoli. However, more than one-third of beekeepers’ hives have disappeared since 2006.

Source: MOM's Organic Market