Arriving in Stores: Bee Better Certified Blueberries
The first product licensed to display the Bee Better Certified seal is now arriving in stores.
liz.robertson
Bee Better Certified Engages the Almond Industry
With a robust set of requirements on pesticide use and the highest standards for protecting and restoring pollinator habitat of any food certification, Bee Better Certified represents a new era in biodiversity protection on farms—and what better time to celebrate this program’s growth than during Earth Week? We’ve been working hard to launch BBC within … Read more
Bee Better One Year In: Off To An Amazing Start
It’s been just over a year since the official launch of Bee Better Certified. Read more for a look back at was has been accomplished thus far.
From the Field: A Visit to Klickitat Canyon Vineyard
Bee Better Certified staff paid a visit to this “ecodynamic” vineyard to discuss their Bee Better Certified application
Unpacking the standards: Pesticide exposure routes
Pesticide risk to bees is not simple or straightforward. There is indirect risk, such as when an herbicide application kills flowering plants thus limiting bees’ ability to gather pollen and nectar. There are also many direct risks that are not fully understood, such as the full effects of some fungicides on bees. For direct harm … Read more
Unpacking the standards: A closer look at pesticide buffers
If you’ve followed our “Unpacking the Standards” series, you’ve probably noticed that Bee Better Certification requirements work together to respond to the risks of supporting pollinators on working farms. Each section of the standards adds support for healthy bee populations, but only when implemented together do they form a cohesive, successful whole The interdependence of … Read more
Unpacking the Standards: Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used in agricultural and urban settings. Released in the mid-1990s as an alternative to older organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, neonicotinoid insecticides are highly toxic to many invertebrates, including bees. They are systemic, meaning they are absorbed and retained in plant tissues, making all parts of the plant toxic to insects. Even … Read more
Unpacking the Standards: Fungicides and Mixtures
While insecticides have long been recognized as a threat to bees, fungicides have generally been assumed to be relatively harmless. However, a growing body of research suggests that certain fungicides can be directly and/or indirectly harmful to bees. Additionally, some combinations of pesticides, including some fungicide/insecticide mixtures, may increase the toxicity of one or both … Read more
Unpacking the Standards: Bloom-Time Ban on Pesticide Applications
Bee Better Certified growers use management practices that improve the resilience of their crops and reduce the likelihood of pest outbreak. They also keep track of pest populations on their farm through scouting and monitoring to know when, and if, a pesticide or other intervention is needed to manage a problem that poses economic … Read more
Unpacking the Standards: Preventive Pest Management
Pesticide use can have negative impacts on wild and managed bees living and foraging in agricultural areas. Some pesticides are deadly even at low doses, while others can have less overt, yet equally troublesome effects on bees – compromising navigation, foraging, and reproductive abilities, which may contribute to long-term population decline. While insecticides cause the … Read more
