National Honey Bee Day

National Honey Bee Day got its start in 2009 when a small group of beekeepers petitioned for and obtained a formal proclamation of National Honey Bee Day from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and was first celebrated on August 22, 2009 (the fourth Saturday of August, now celebrated on the third Saturday). The following year, non-profit group Pennsylvania Apiculture Inc. stepped in to facilitate the observance and the promotion of the occasion.
But why do honey bees have their own day? Because, while we all enjoy indulging in their namesake, honey bees are actually responsible for a large portion of our everyday diet. Many may not know that pollination is the vital “second shift” of the humble honey bee. While honey bees are gathering nectar, they’re also fertilizing flowering plants. Pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the anthers of a flower to the ovules of another flower. This pollination greatly increases the quantity and quality of many crops like fruits, vegetables and nuts.