Bees play a vital role in producing many of the fruits we know and love. From apples and pears to cherries, berries, and watermelons, countless crops depend on bees for successful pollination. Without their help, these fruits would be less plentiful, less nutritious, and in some cases, might not grow at all. Beyond fruits, many vegetables and legumes also benefit from bee pollination, leading to healthier plants and more abundant harvests.
The Role of Bees in Growing Fruit
Bees do more than just buzz around—they play a key role in helping plants grow fruit. As they visit flowers to collect nectar, they also pick up pollen and carry it from one flower to another. This transfer of pollen helps plants reproduce and develop fruit.
You can think of bees as nature’s couriers, delivering pollen exactly where it needs to go. Without their help, many fruit-bearing plants wouldn’t be able to grow the foods we enjoy every day.
Fruits That Rely on Bees
Bees are essential to the production and quality of many fruits. Here’s a closer look at some popular ones and why bees matter so much for their growth:
Raspberries & Blackberries
- Pollination Role: Bees help produce bigger, juicier berries.
- Fun Fact: Bumblebees, honeybees, and mason bees pollinate raspberries. Blackberries attract many wild bees—even in cities like London.
- Enjoy Tip: Use in jams, desserts, or as a fresh topping.
Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Tangerines, Limes & Grapefruit)
- Pollination Role: While self-fertile, citrus trees produce more and better fruit with bee pollination.
- Fun Fact: Bees boost fruit size and yield, especially in warm climates.
- Enjoy Tip: Juice them fresh or zest the peel for extra flavour.
Blueberries & Cranberries
- Pollination Role: Need frequent bee visits for good yields.
- Fun Fact: Bumblebees are more efficient than honeybees and use “buzz pollination” to release pollen.
- Enjoy Tip: Great in muffins, smoothies, or cereal.
Currants
- Pollination Role: Mainly pollinated by queen bumblebees in early spring.
- Fun Fact: These early bees ensure fruit sets before other insects appear.
- Enjoy Tip: Delicious in jams, sauces, or baked goods.
Strawberries
- Pollination Role: Bumblebees and honeybees improve fruit size and shape.
- Fun Fact: Bumblebees thrive in polytunnels and also work in cooler weather.
- Enjoy Tip: Serve fresh, dipped in chocolate, or in desserts.
Orchard Fruits (Apples, Pears, Plums & More)
- Pollination Role: Honeybees and wild bees work together for better fruit.
- Fun Fact: Bumblebees and solitary bees pollinate in cool, early hours when honeybees stay in. Mason bees are especially important.
- Enjoy Tip: Perfect for snacking, baking, or pairing with cheese.
Gooseberries
- Pollination Role: Mainly pollinated by honeybees, with help from wild bees.
- Fun Fact: Early bumblebees and Tawny Mining Bees help during cool spring days.
- Enjoy Tip: Make into tangy jam, crumble, or enjoy fresh with honey.
Watermelons
- Pollination Role: Flowers need several bee visits to form proper fruit.
- Fun Fact: Poor pollination causes small or misshapen melons.
- Enjoy Tip: Refreshing in juice, fruit salads, or frozen as popsicles.
Beyond Fruits: Bees in the Bigger Picture
Bees don’t just pollinate fruits—they’re essential for vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices, and even drinks.
Vegetables & Legumes
Crops like cabbage, carrots, beets, and peas need bees to produce seeds. Bumblebees help pollinate tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines through special “buzz pollination.”
Nuts
Almonds heavily rely on honeybees—especially in California. Brazil nuts need orchid bees, while coconuts are pollinated by stingless tropical bees.
Herbs & Spices
Common herbs like basil, mint, and thyme attract solitary and honeybees. Vanilla depends on stingless bees, and spices like saffron and cardamom also need bee visits.
Drinks
Coffee, tea, and chocolate benefit from insect pollination—coffee by bees, tea by bees, and cocoa mainly by midges.
Why Bees Matter — And How You Can Help
If Bees Disappear
No bees means no apples, berries, or many of the foods we love. Bees pollinate one-third of what we eat, so their loss would affect our diets, farms, and the planet.
Simple Ways to Help
- Grow bee-friendly plants like lavender or sunflowers
- Skip pesticides, especially when flowers are blooming
- Buy local honey and support beekeepers
- Leave out shallow water for thirsty bees
- Spread the word about why pollinators matter
Final Thought
From fruit to nuts to chocolate, bees make our meals possible. Let’s protect them.
What’s your favourite bee-pollinated treat? Tell us below—and don’t forget to thank a bee!
Reference:
Scott, E. & Erickson, C., 2017 (updated 2023). Bees and Agriculture: A Critical Symbiotic Relationship. Best Bees [blog]. Available at: https://bestbees.com/bees-and-agriculture/ [Accessed 17 October 2025].