Environmentalist David Suzuki, in a recent article, discusses the issue of blueberries and bees to the B.C. agricultural industry.  It is well known that blueberries are now British Columbia's largest fruit crop at over $100 million annually.  What isn't so well known however is the challenges the industry faces due to recent declines in bee populations.

If it weren’t for the wild bees that pollinate the blueberry fields in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver and elsewhere, berry yields would collapse. In fact, declines in honey bees and other agricultural pollinators as a result of habitat loss, pesticide use, and other human activities mean that farmers are now paying to replace this critical natural service.

Dr. Suzuki argues that the government should consider ecological investments such as establishment of "greenbelts" of farmlands, forests and watersheds, noting the often forgotten economic value of such ecosystems is signficant.  He points out that a few small efforts by our federal government could go a long way to ensuring that we continue to receive these benefits from nature and that we don’t incur the enormous costs of replacing them if nature is degraded.

To learn more about blueberries and the environment check out the article.  More information on environmental issues can also be found at www.davidsuzuki.org.