Meet the pollinator team
Pollination
Pollination is the reproductive process for plants. Grains of pollen are moved from the male part of a plant to the female part of a plant resulting in fertilization which enables the production of seeds and fruit. While there are some plants that can self-pollinate, many rely on outside help. In their search for the nectar inside flowers, pollinators do the work of moving pollen both within the same flower and between flowers.
Learn About
1 out of every 3 bites of food is thanks to pollinators.
Why are pollinators important?
Many plants that feed both people and animals depend on pollinators. In the United States alone, over 100 crops rely on pollinators. According to the USDA, that is agriculture worth $18 billion! It is estimated that 1 out of every 3 bites of food is available because of the work of pollinators.
Here is a short list of some of those crops:
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Alfalfa
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Almonds
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Apples
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Blueberries
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Cabbage
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Cherries
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Chocolate
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Clover
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Coffee
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Garlic
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Lettuce
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Peaches
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Pears
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Raspberries
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Squash
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Sunflowers
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Watermelon