Bees Do Big Things
Everyone knows honey bees make honey, but their contributions hardly end there. Although other insects can pollinate plants, honey bees are premier pollinators because they are available throughout the growing season and pollinate a wide range of crops, including almonds, apples, avocados, cucumbers, melons, pears and many more.
http://scientificbeekeeping.com/2012-almond-pollination-update
In fact, about one-third of the U.S. diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants and honey bees are responsible for an impressive 80 percent of that process.
That's why the National Honey Board currently allocates five percent of anticipated revenue each year to bee health research on issues like Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and external factors affecting honey bees.
http://www.almonds.com/consumers/about-almonds/bee
Article courtesy of the National Honey Board. https://www.honey.com/the-bees-1