Are Almonds & Almond Products Vegan?
The California almond industry is booming
California provides an astounding 80% of the world's almonds and is projected to produce 2.5 billion pounds this year. Last year, the going price rose from $2.45 per pound to $2.60 per pound, even though the supply had also risen. This indicates that demand is continuing to strengthen. In fact, the average American eats two pounds of almonds per year, exceeding any other country's consumption rate. All these almonds will be grown on 1.2 million acres, more than double the 500,000 acres in the year 2000.
Almonds are a plant product, but are still not vegan
Almond trees (Prunus dulcis) are not self-pollinating, therefore insects are needed to unwittingly carry all that pollen between flowers. These trees will require 2.4 million bee colonies for pollination services. Each year, over 1 million honey honey bee colonies are imported to California to help pollinate the state's almond trees. So what's the issue? Isn't that what bees would be doing anyway? Aren't we actually helping the bee population by providing all those trees and an infinite supply of nectar producing flowers?
Intention not perfection
It's all about Intention, Not Perfection. I had switched to almond milk several years ago, then layered on almond cheese, almond butter and almond creamer. I was intending to "do the right thing", not knowing that my choice was contributing to some serious issues that bees are facing right now. I came to find out that bees are placed in great peril as they are used for all that almond pollinating, in addition to many other pollinating gigs around the country. For that reason, I've come to the conclusion that almonds are not vegan.
Issues facing bees are varied and quite serious
The world literally depends upon bees, in large part, for our survival. A staggering 35% of the world's food crops depend on bee pollinators, while about 75% of the worlds flowering plants depend on bees. More bees die per year in the U.S. than all other fish and livestock for slaughter combined. In fact, national statistics indicate an annual loss of 30% of the bee population. That's a frighteningly high mortality rate, caused by a variety of serious issues:
1. Chemical soup: Monocrops, like almonds, invite pests such as fungi and insects, necessitating the use of large amounts of fungicides and pesticides, chemicals that are lethal to bees.
2. Unfair competition: European honey bees outcompete diverse native bees for forage, and endanger those species that are already endangered due to climate change.
3. Stressful road tripping: Bees are used as pollinators in crops all year round, and their immune systems are weakened due to the stressful rides back-and-forth across the country.
4. Early risers: The bees are awoken one to two months before their normal winter dormancy period is finished, creating even more stressful demands on the bees.
5. Sick bay: Bees are gathered from a wide swatch of colonies and are allowed to co-mingle, therefore easily spreading viruses and other pathogens.
6. Feast or famine: Bees suffer from cycle of pollination gluttony to near-starvation, because after they have fully pollinated a particular crop, there are no other natural food sources available for many miles.
7. Unhealthy diet: While on the road, bees are trapped inside a plastic wrapped colony and can't forage, so they are subjected to nutrient-poor sugar syrup and pollen patties.
8. Dangerous roads: Speaking of the road, accidents involving bee trucks can cause large scale death of the bees, not to mention the driver and other motorists.
Solutions and alternatives exist
I'm opposed to any action that causes another sentient being to suffer from maltreatment. In the case of bees, this maltreatment is literally endangering human survival, as well as the delicate balance of the ecosystem (a topic for an entirely different blog post). I'm also sensitive to the fact that thousands of families depend on the almond and bee industries for their livelihood.
We owe it to the bees and ourselves to find solutions and alternatives, while also helping farmers and beekeepers make the transition to the bee friendly practices.
1. Shop the seal: Buy products that are "bee better" certified and have the official seal. See the web site from the Xerces Foundation for Invertebrate Conservation for more information.
2. Talk it up: Raise awareness by sharing this post or discussing the issue with anyone who will listen, and follow the Xerces Foundation on social media.
Check out the Xerces Foundations
3. Voice your opinion: Email your favorite brands to let them know that you interested in protecting pollinators throughout the supply chain, as well as the adoption of the Bee Bette certification.
4. Practice your green thumb: Plant flowers that provide pollination opportunities for bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators. Check out this page of plant lists for each region of the country.
5. Make your thumb even greener: Use "green practices" in your garden, by avoiding the use of pesticides and using ecological pest management practices. See this page on the risks of pesticides to pollinators for more information.
6. Build some nests: Provide nesting sites for the egg and larval stages of our insect pollinators. Check out this page of nesting resources to get started.
7. Show the sign: Install a pollinator habitat sign to help spread awareness. You can purchase one by going to this donation site.
8. Find the alternatives: Drink other sources of milk, such as flax, hemp, macadamia, oat, pea and soy milk. Also, try other healthy nuts or seeds, such as:
- Pollinated by insects other than honey bees: pumpkins, sunflowers
- Self-pollinated: peanuts
- Wind-pollinated: hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts
* Note: Cashews also require honey bee or solitary bee pollination, but studies are underway to test the efficacy of beekeeping within the cashew orchards (source).
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