Some Final Words on Fees and Bees

Most beekeepers are paid rental fees to cover the costs of transporting and maintaining the colonies and to make a fair profit. Given bees’ importance to pollination, it might make more sense for beekeepers to earn a share of crop fees, which gives them incentive to supply the best colonies to obtain the highest possible yield. Without bees, many fruit and vegetable blossoms would not set seed. At best, produce would be misshapen and fruits far less sweet. Even a slight drop in fruit and vegetable quality would lead to an economic loss, particularly in the US, where consumers expect perfectly shaped produce. Pollination is no longer a free commodity, and beekeepers should be paid well, certainly more than they currently are paid, for the invaluable service their bees provide.