Shop for local honey products, locally pollinated produce, and learn the science behind pollination from the market’s vendors and community partners!
August 16, 2016
Minneapolis, Minn.—On Saturday, August 20th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Mill City Farmers Market, together with Land O’Lakes, Inc. and other community partners, will celebrate World Honey Bee Day at its weekly downtown market. In addition to over 65 vendors selling farm-fresh honey, beeswax products, and locally pollinated fruits and vegetables, the market will host several community partners who will be educating the community about the importance of bees and other pollinators in local agriculture. Look at bees under microscopes, watch live bees buzzing through a hive, join the Coloration of PolliNation™ by coloring a bee-utiful pollinator creation, sample seasonal recipes, and learn about all the ways to celebrate bees through gardening classes (bee lawns!) and pollinator-themed family activities from The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Market Science, Ames Farm, and Land O’Lakes, Inc.!
“As a food and agriculture company dedicated to feeding crops, animals and people, ensuring the bees and butterflies that help make our food possible have enough to eat just makes sense,” said Kim Olson, Chief Communications Officer of Arden Hills, Minnesota-based Land O’Lakes, Inc. “Just this year, we’ve distributed more than 35,000 pollinator garden seed packets to our partners, employees and members in communities here in Minnesota and across the United States in an effort to create more forage habitat. World Honey Bee Day is a perfect time to celebrate the impact of bees, butterflies and other pollinators with Mill City Farmers Market and their tremendous vendors and visitors. It’s up to all of us to make a difference in pollinator health.”
According to the American Beekeeping Federation, honey bees directly pollinate the flowers of one-third of all fruit and vegetables grown in the United States. Many crops, including apples, berries, pumpkins, and melons are 90 percent dependent on honey bees for pollination. Furthermore, honey bees and other pollinators like native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies contribute more than 24 billion dollars to the U.S. economy each year, according to a 2014 White House report.
Shop for local honey, honey products, and all your groceries at the Mill City Farmers Market this Saturday, August 20th on World Honey Bee Day! In addition to honey bee education and activities, join the market for a cooking demonstration and book signing from acclaimed cookbook author Robin Asbell, author of ‘Great Bowls of Food’, and for live music from Michael Keyes and Jim Krans at 11 a.m.
About the market: Founded in 2006 by acclaimed local chef Brenda Langton and the Mill City Museum, Mill City Farmers Market has earned a reputation for its promotion of healthy eating and sustainable agriculture. Located next to the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis, the market runs every Saturday May-September from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday in October.
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