Reduced bee population may reduce Delmarva fruit production
Reduced bee population may reduce Delmarva fruit production
Watermelons, cantaloupes and Delaware and Maryland truck crops were generally looking good late this spring, as the Laurel Farmers' Auction Market in Laurel, DE, was anticipating a normal opening around July 7.
Auction manager Tom Wright said that most growers in his region have irrigation that has overcome very dry production weather. But one precipitation matter that cannot be solved by irrigation is the local wild and commercial bee population.
Vegetable crops can successfully pollinate without bees, but Mr. Wright said that fruit crops, including watermelons, peaches and apples, need bees to assure a large crop.
In dry winter weather, bees are more susceptible to microscopic mites, which attack dormant beehives. Such attacks have virtually wiped out Delaware's wild bee population, he said. Commercial beekeepers that do not carefully spray to eliminate these mites also lose bee populations.
Melon blossoms need to be visited by bees seven to 10 times to assure effective pollination, Mr. Wright said, "so we need a large number of bees working in the fields. Bees are essential, and as we find more and more critters attacking things, they've wiped [wild] bees right out."
On June 1, he indicated that three warm days on the Delmarva Peninsula have "moved production right along" for the produce crops marketed from the Laurel Farmers' Auction Market.
He was expecting some cantaloupes to arrive at the market a few days before the July 4 norm and the first watermelons to become available right after July 4.
"Quality is looking good. I have not heard of any disease problems," he said.
(For more on the Eastern Shore deal, see the June 12 issue of The Produce News.)
Auction manager Tom Wright said that most growers in his region have irrigation that has overcome very dry production weather. But one precipitation matter that cannot be solved by irrigation is the local wild and commercial bee population.
Vegetable crops can successfully pollinate without bees, but Mr. Wright said that fruit crops, including watermelons, peaches and apples, need bees to assure a large crop.
In dry winter weather, bees are more susceptible to microscopic mites, which attack dormant beehives. Such attacks have virtually wiped out Delaware's wild bee population, he said. Commercial beekeepers that do not carefully spray to eliminate these mites also lose bee populations.
Melon blossoms need to be visited by bees seven to 10 times to assure effective pollination, Mr. Wright said, "so we need a large number of bees working in the fields. Bees are essential, and as we find more and more critters attacking things, they've wiped [wild] bees right out."
On June 1, he indicated that three warm days on the Delmarva Peninsula have "moved production right along" for the produce crops marketed from the Laurel Farmers' Auction Market.
He was expecting some cantaloupes to arrive at the market a few days before the July 4 norm and the first watermelons to become available right after July 4.
"Quality is looking good. I have not heard of any disease problems," he said.
(For more on the Eastern Shore deal, see the June 12 issue of The Produce News.)
