Did you know that Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 and is recognized in 193 countries? This special day began in 1970 as a way for people worldwide to come together in recognition of the importance of environmental protection and keeping our planet clean, safe and sustainable for all.

Though the focus of Earth Day is generally the same year after year, each Earth Day has a special theme. This year's theme is Invest in Our Planet, which focuses on the importance of making changes now and putting habits and processes in place that will preserve our Earth for years to come. It's important to recognize that what we do, or don't do, today, will have lasting impact on our planet forever.

Did you know that 80 percent of pollination worldwide comes from honeybees? Tragically, in recent years, beekeepers around the world have reported losses of 30 to 90 percent of their honeybee colonies. This phenomenon is called Colony Collapse Disorder, and it threatens the livelihood of our ecosystem. The cause of Colony Collapse Disorder is still being researched, but it is suspected to be caused by pesticides, mites, pathogens and beekeeping practices, among other things.

The Importance of Safe and Sustainable Beekeeping

As a Manuka Honey producer, Wedderspoon prioritizes the quality of our product and the health and best interest of both our customers, and our Manuka honeybees. Our Manuka honeybees are our partners - we consider them part of the Wedderspoon team, and their health and wellbeing is very important to us. We recognize and respect the role they play as pollinators and believe it's our duty to ensure we have processes in place to protect and support them longterm.

We are proud of the approach the Wedderspoon beekeepers take when it's time to harvest honey. They are gentle and watchful, causing as little stress as possible to the bees while they are harvesting the honey. They always leave a portion of the honey behind, untouched, which is very crucial. Did you know that honeybees actually consume a little bit of honey to fuel themselves through the winter?

Working Together in Support of Planet Earth

There is no one person or company that can save Planet Earth on their own. We need to work together and all do our part, however that may be - whether it's practicing Earth-friendly business policies and practices, planting pollinator plants in home gardens, committing to more waste- and pollution-free habits or volunteering with and supporting organizations that fight to protect the planet.

We at Wedderspoon are proud to partner with and support organizations doing important work, including the Rodale Institute. The Rodale Institute is dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach. Learn more about other important causes and organizations we proudly partner with, here - many of which are organizations that support bees and education around bees and beekeeping.

We encourage you to do your part this month, and beyond. Our planet is depending on every one of us!