WHAT: Pollinator awareness event

WHERE: Open Space Visitor Center | 6500 Coors Blvd NW at the end of Bosque Meadows Rd.

between Montaño and Paseo del Norte

WHEN: June 26 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

FEE: FREE

CONTACT: Jodi Hedderig | Parks & Recreation Dept., Open Space Division | 505-897-8831 | jhedderig@cabq.gov |

Albuquerque, NM—  Imagine how bleak our diets would be without apples, melons, berries, carrots, broccoli, almonds, coffee, chocolate, and, dare I say it, chile. These foods and many other foods that nourish and comfort us depend on pollinating animals to reproduce, such as bees and wasps, flies, butterflies and moths, and beetles.  But pollinators are threatened. Dramatic declines of pollinator species are being documented world-wide.  The Sichuan Province of China is one of the world’s largest apple producers and they manage this by pollinating every flower by hand -- by human hand.  The heavy use of pesticides has eliminated the visitation of native pollinators and beekeepers refuse to bring their hives into the toxic environment.

Pesticide assault, loss and degradation of habitat, and the spread of disease and parasites are the primary threats to pollinators.  But these threats can be reversed by sharing information with neighbors and the greater community on how each household can contribute to pollinator conservation.

We're getting the message out to as many people as possible by hosting an afternoon of FREE bee awareness activities on Sunday, June 26 from 11am-4pm during National Pollinator Week.

Activities include:

• HONEY TASTING: Is West side honey better than East side honey? What's the difference between local honey and store-bought honey? Come and sample honey from beekeepers in Albuquerque.

• BEES IN THE 'HOOD: Learn about how people keep bees in Albuquerque and how you can create a bee-friendly environment in your garden and community. Check out the parts of a bee hive.
• MEET BEEKEEPERS: Come and meet local beekeepers, ask questions, and try on their "bee hat."
• HONEY, THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT: Taste recipes made with local honey.

This program organized by the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division and sponsored by Whole Foods Market.