Take time out to appreciate bees

"It's National Pollinator Week, a week dedicated to celebrating bees and other pollinators that make our foods, farms and flowers possible. And we need to do more to protect these pollinators.

Environment Illinois launched the Bee Friendly Food Alliance to unite chefs and restaurant owners in Illinois and across the country to save the bees. After all, who knows better than chefs and restaurateurs: no bees means no food.

Bees pollinate many of the foods we enjoy, everything from strawberries to avocados. Our state fruit, the Gold Rush apple, is pollinated by bees. Unfortunately, bees are dying off at alarming rates with significant consequences for our environment and our food supply.

From pie shops to fine dining establishments, chefs and restaurants are hard at work this Pollinator Week raising awareness and educating customers about the vital role that bees play for our food supply and the need to save them."

Saumya Shruti

Chicago