How Maine Blueberry Growers Use Wild Bees: Learning from a Sustainability Transition in Progress
Sam Hanes and Brianne Du Clos, University of Maine
Honeybees are the backbone of U.S. crop pollination but their numbers have been declining since 1960. Our project looks at why Maine blueberry growers pollinate their crop as they do, with particular attention to their use of wild bees as a supplement or alternative to honeybees. What are some of the obstacles they encounter when they try to use and conserve wild bees and what can be done to help growers who want to diversify their pollination sources?