(NAPSA)—Apples, broccoli, cherries, almonds—they all have something in common that may surprise you. Besides the fact that they may be in your kitchen right now, each one of these foods is available thanks to the honey bee and other pollinators. In fact, about onethird of the human food supply dependson bees and other pollinators. Chances are, honey bees have a hand in producing some of your favorite foods. And with all of their hard work, bees needto eat, too. However, bees are struggling to find adequate, diverse food sources due to habitat loss. Recently, the White House launched the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge to create ways for everyone to sup- port the issue and increase forage. With a global population expected to rise to more than 9 billion people by 2050, 70 percent more food will need to be produced. This ee == r ce Ty Your yard can be a greatplace to feed a bee. means weall have to pitch in to help feed the bees so they can continue to produce thefruits, nuts and vegetables that people need for a healthy diet. Join the effort to create a million pollinator gardens and feed the bees. Here are three ways you can help increase forage area for bees andother pollinators: Learn more about native beeattractant plants. The Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Smart mobile app can help you choosethe best plants to grow in your gardento attract bees and otherpollinators. eAsk the Feed a Bee initiative to plant flowers on your “bee-half.” Feed a Bee is an initiative to increase forage areas for honey bees and otherpollinators. Everyone can support pollinator health by growing plants that produce bee-attractant flowers in backyards and throughout communities. By visiting www.FeedABee.com, you can ask the Feed a Bee initiative to plant flowers for you that produce the pollen and nectar that bees need to survive and thrive. Nearly 200,000 people have pledged to plant 50 million flowers in the U.S., and it doesn’t stop there. Feed a Bee is also partnering with government and nonprofit organizations and businesses across the country to plant thousandsof acres of forage for bees. Grow your ownbee-attractant plants. Through FeedABee.com, you can also commit to planting your own bee-attractant plants using a helpful growing guide andtips for creating bee-attractant habitats for pollinators. Additionally, you can share your planting photos using #FeedABee on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr. Whether you own acres of land or a flowerpot on your balcony, have a green thumborstruggle to keep fake flowers “alive,” you can play a part in helping to feed a bee and, in turn, help them feed the world. To learn more about bees and why they are important, visit http://beehealth.bayer.us/home.
