The Market is Open and Buzzing

Sunday May 17, 2015

The rains this week have provided habitat for a multitude of buzzing winged-vampires in my backyard. However, the market is also buzzing with action and cyber-sultry commerce. Got an itch for local food? We’ve opened the ALFN market ready to help you scratch that itch with Arkansas produce, plants, and products.

The past couple of weeks another buzz has been in the news—bees. Last summer, beekeepers of the American Beekeeping Federation lost 42% of their bees. Such extreme losses are attributed to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which involves the massive die-off of whole colonies. For a decade, scientists have been trying to ascertain the source of this alarming illness. For years, people have wondered if CCD is related to long-term exposure to low levels of pesticides used in industrial agriculture. For example, much attention has been directed towards the possible negative effects from neonicotinoid, a widely used insecticide. Neonicotinoids (Neonics) are coated on seeds and are absorbed into the tissue of the plants as they grow. Neonics show up in pollen and nectar of the plants. Of course, the pesticide industry has denied allegation which link CCD to neonics. However, last month two studies came out in Nature that pushes correlation towards causation (Study 1 , Study 2 ). These studies not only showed neonics cause harm to pollinators, but also revealed bees will select nectar laced with neonics over unlaced nectar. It’s possible the bees get a buzz off the neonic nectar just like humans get a buzz off nicotine in cigarettes.

Today, millions of acres are planted in monocultures that require countless bees for pollination. Mono-croppers request thousands of hives from across the nation to spend a few weeks in their fields to pollinate their almond trees, fruit trees, and berry bushes. CCD is one more apocalyptic sign of our unsustainable food practices. However, alternatives to industrial agriculture are germinating all over the country. ALFN brings local produce pollinated by local bees to your table. Support our growers, support local food economies, support local agriculture free of chemical addictions like neonics, and bolster a food system of resilience.

Buzz on!

Kyle Holton
Program & Market Manager

P.S. There are some great documentaries covering CCD and those who are fighting the problem and helping bees through sustainable practices. Check out this listing of top documentaries on the subject.